Lee County Hometown Revitalization program awards announced

Duke Energy awarded Hometown Revitalization grants to 30 communities across the state, totaling $750,000. This is part of their effort to offset the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses. The Sanford Area Growth Alliance Foundation, in partnership with Downtown Sanford, Inc, was chosen to establish a small business support microgrant program to deploy $25,000 to our local small business community. Microgrants range from $500 to $2,500 per individual business, as funds are available.

Businesses that were awarded grants are located in downtown Sanford and downtown Jonesboro, and each have 50 or fewer employees.

The grant recipients are Added Accents, Chef Hamm Inc., Dossenbach’s Finer Furniture, Hugger Mugger, La Dolce Vita, Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House, Sanford Yoga and Community Center, The Smoke and Barrel, The Chocolate Cellar, The Flame Steakhouse, The Purple Poodle, and Theraplay.

“We are thrilled to be a recipient of the Duke Energy Hometown Revitalization grant. These funds provide hope for our small downtown businesses who are enduring the effects of COVID-19. They are overcoming the myriad of obstacles presented by the pandemic, and these microgrant will assist them in that process” states Meg Moss, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director for the Sanford Area Growth Alliance.

Small businesses in our downtown areas will utilize funds to reimburse costs already incurred due to COVID-19 or to fund projects to increase capacity, increase sales, provide new ways of offering services, or other creative ways to improve their business.

“Duke Energy wants to make a big impact within downtown areas,” stated Indira Everett, Duke Energy’s East Region Director. This grant allows for multiple businesses within a relatively small geographic area to make improvements. 

Kelli Laudate, Downtown Sanford, Inc Executive Director shared “Downtown Sanford Inc. is thrilled to partner with the Sanford Area Growth Alliance to offer the Lee County Hometown Revitalization grant to the merchants and business owners of downtown. This grant will allow them to make changes to their business to increase profitability by using the funds to create outdoor seating or even develop e-commerce. We are grateful to Duke Energy for valuing the local businesses of downtown Sanford!”

 

Courtesy photo/Contributed.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email