Members of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce Grant Selection Committee recently distributed over $100,000 in grants to help downtown business owners enhance their establishments.
Forty businesses received checks ranging from $500 to $5,000 from the Grant Selection Committee, said the Chamber in a press release. The money was provided by the Duke Energy Foundation to recognize the value that small businesses and non-profits bring to Moore County.
“The Moore County Chamber of Commerce was thrilled to partner with Duke Energy to offer opportunities for small businesses and non-profits to prosper in an ever-changing business climate,” said Tom Boals, chair of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce. “We were especially grateful for the financial support that the Duke Energy Foundation provided to the Chamber to help small businesses grow and thrive.”
Eighty-five applications were submitted, with a total of $372,922.67 in requests. The Grant Selection Committee diligently reviewed each application and awarded grants through a fair and competitive process.
Individual grants could be used by small businesses to:
*Enhance service or commerce opportunities by modifying physical space, acquiring technology to improve online sales, or expanding the capacity for delivery of goods or services.
*Support storefront beautification projects that enhance the appearance of the business and community (i.e., new exterior paint, awnings, signage, or planters).
*Implement tools or programs to support workforce needs (i.e., collaborating with a recruiter, paying to list job opportunities, or paying tuition for training programs).
*Support marketing and promotion of the storefront.
To be eligible for funding under the program, a Moore County small business could not have more than one hundred employees and was required to have a physical presence in the county. Non-profits that met these requirements were also eligible to apply. Ineligible expenses included payroll, incentive pay, rent, and utilities. These grant funds are eligible to reimburse expenses previously incurred or projected to be expensed prior to Dec. 31, 2024.
Award Recipients Included:
305 Trackside
Against the Grain Shoppe
Angela Thompson Group –KW
Art of Motion Pilates
Arts Council of Moore County
ARTworks Vass
Bangers & Mash, LLC
Bump & Baby, LLC
Cameron Historic Preservation, Inc.
Carolina Dance Works
Companion Animal Clinic Foundation
Cooper & Bailey’s Double U & H, LLC
Drop Zone Kids LLC
Empowered Nutrition
Fitness Concepts
Heads Up Barbershop
Hubbard Dental
Junk N Java
Karefree Produce Inc.
Karma Spa Lounge & Beauty Bar
Life Care Pregnancy Center
Little Pines Academy
Lookin’ for Linda
Marie & Marcele Boutique, Inc.
Middleton Street Bake Shop & Creamery
Midnight Bee Supply
Moore Equine Feed & Supply
Partners For Children & Families, Inc.
Prancing Horse Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship
Purple Thistle Kitchen + Co.
R. Riveter
Solomon’s Inn
Spoon Lickers Catering
The Dewberry Inn Farm to Fork
The Relatable Learner
Upchurch Floors
Welcome to Southern Pines, Inc.
Willabee Market Wongo’s Barbell Foundation
“It was the Chamber’s distinct honor to execute this grant program, and we are excited to see all the various projects come to fruition in the coming months,” said Linda Parsons, president, and CEO of the Chamber. “The number of small businesses and non-profits in our community is remarkable. Each of these businesses and non-profits add so much to our community where we live, work and play.”
“Small businesses help create thriving local economies,” said David McNeill, district manager of Duke Energy. “We are pleased to invest these funds in Moore County.”
Award recipients were able to attend a networking reception in their honor and meet representatives of Duke Energy in November to celebrate their grant awards.
Moore County Chamber of Commerce is a 501c (6) not-for-profit organization serving all of Moore County, NC, and our region for 56 years. The Chamber’s mission is to foster a vibrant business community. Visit www.moorecountychamber.com for more information about the Moore County Chamber of Commerce.
Feature photo: Award recipients celebrate during a networking reception in November.
Contributed/Courtesy photo.
