During its initial two-year program, 13,000
small businesses were awarded over $110
million in monetary, marketing, and technology
grants.
BALTIMORE, May 9, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today announced a new round of 100
businesses in Baltimore City will
receive comprehensive grant packages that include business
consultation services, educational resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production, media
schedule, and a technology makeover. Comcast RISE is committed to
supporting the growth of all small businesses, while advancing the
objectives of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as
community investment. The program was created to help businesses
and their communities thrive with a focus on economic
growth.
"This is a great day for Baltimore
City's small business community," said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "Small businesses are the
backbone of our city and local economy, and I'd like to thank
Comcast for its continued commitment to small businesses in
Baltimore and beyond."
Beginning on June 1, and through
June 30, eligible businesses in
Baltimore, Detroit, Memphis, Philadelphia, and Portland, can apply for a grant package at
www.ComcastRISE.com. A total of 100 grants per city, or 500 grants
overall, will be announced in August and awarded in September 2023, bringing the total number of
recipients to date to 13,500.
"The support from Comcast RISE was a major boost during a
challenging stretch for small businesses," said Dasia Kabia, a former Comcast RISE recipient and
founder of Ice Queens in Locust Point. "The TV commercial we
received from Comcast helped us build brand awareness,
differentiate from competitors and reach new audiences across
Baltimore."
In addition to Ice Queens, a mother-daughter-run business that
serves New Orleans-style shaved ice, more than 80 Baltimore City
small businesses have already received marketing and technology
resources through Comcast RISE since the program's founding in
2020. Previous recipients also include:
- BrickRose Exchange – A cultural space where businesses, artists
and other community members come to collaborate through live
events.
- Girls From Planet Venus – A women's clothing brand with a
variety of street styled pieces.
- KEYS Enterprises – An organization that provides therapeutic
services for youth in group homes throughout Baltimore City.
Comcast RISE stands for Representation, Investment, Strength,
and Empowerment. Comcast RISE was created in November 2020 to help small businesses hardest
hit by COVID-19, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare
centers and cleaning services, by providing the grants needed to
survive and recover. The program will evolve from helping
businesses survive the pandemic, to helping businesses and their
communities thrive with a focus on economic growth.
Grant packages will include:
- CONSULTATION – Assessment of business and tactical
planning; business to business coaching; and mentorship to advise
on how to grow business.
- EDUCATION RESOURCES – Educational content and resources
tailored to individual companies based on where they are in their
business lifecycle.
- MONETARY GRANT – $5,000
monetary grant to invest in growth and sustainability.
- CREATIVE PRODUCTION & MEDIA – Turnkey production of
a 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and
180-day media placement schedule.
- TECHNOLOGY MAKEOVER – Computer equipment and Internet,
Voice and Cybersecurity services for 12 months. (Taxes and other
fees may still apply for tech makeover services.)
In addition, any small business owner can visit the Comcast RISE
destination on the X1 platform featuring aggregated small business
news, tips, insights, and more. Just say "Comcast RISE" into the X1
voice remote.
"Supporting small businesses and providing them with digital
tools to help them thrive is at the core of the Comcast RISE
mission and something I'm passionate about," said Michael Parker, Senior Vice President of
Comcast's Beltway Region. "We've seen just how impactful Comcast
RISE can be for entrepreneurs and we're excited to deepen our
commitment to the small business community in Baltimore."
Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company's comprehensive
initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of
unlimited possibilities.
More information and the applications to apply for either the
grant program or marketing and technology services are available at
www.ComcastRISE.com.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and
technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide,
to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach
hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide.
We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through
Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream
leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including
NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and
Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and
attractions to life through Universal Destinations &
Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more
information.
About Comcast Business
Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and
Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes
transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and
backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the
largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast
Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and
mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise
market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry
associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet
services. For more information, visit www.business.comcast.com or
call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other
social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.
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SOURCE Comcast