City Helps Small Businesses

In an announcement at J.J. Family Auto Sales, Mayor Fischer announced that the city will be giving $128,000, in loans, to 13 local businesses. The announcement was made at J.J. Family Auto Sales as they finished an expansion project that was made possible through a similar loan last year. The loans are part of a development plan that is meant to help small, low to moderate income, businesses start-up and grow here in the county.

The businesses are considered micro-businesses, meaning that they employee less than five employees. The loans are to help these small business grow. Fischer stated that for every $1 that the city uses in this way, it helps businesses generate $5, which in turn helps the local economy.

The loans are funded from a federal grant, the Community Development Block Grant through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Businesses that received the loans this year are:

• $15,000 loan to Manhattan on Broadway, 716 East Broadway. The loan will allow the owner, Nachand Trabue, to purchase more inventory, sound and video equipment. This project will add two full-time positions.
• $15,000 loan to George Addison dba BeeNetworks Media Group, who specializes in marketing and media video productions. This will allow the owner to purchase supplies and inventory.
• $15,000 loan to Romanique Beauty Salon, 5201 Dixie Highway. The loan will allow the owner, Janisha Ditto, to purchase production equipment, signage and marketing materials.
• $15,000 loan to Future Pioneer Learning Center, 7731 St. Andrews Church Road. This will allow the owner, Roshunder Gordon, to purchase childcare equipment, insurance and signage for an expanded facility.
• $15,000 loan to Doaty Distribution, LLC to purchase box trucks.  The loan will help the owner, James Doaty, expand routes to five other locations for deliveries of snacks.
• $15,000 loan to Wright Amount located in Chef Space, 1800 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.  This will allow the owner, Tracy Wright, to purchase inventory, rental space and food trailer.
• $8,000 loan to All is Fair in Love and Fashion to purchase inventory and equipment. The loan will help the owner, RaeShanda Johnson, expand production services.
• $5,000 loan to Extreme Appetite, LLC. This will allow the owner, Damira Trabue, to provide mobile food catering services.
• $5,000 loan to The Black Italian, a food catering service. This loan will allow the owners, Paula and Anthony Hunter, to purchase inventory, space and a vehicle and support transportation for customers.
• $5,000 loan to Jace’s Childcare, 4107 Cane Run Road. This loan will assist owner, Keishonda Clark, in purchasing some new equipment, and rental assistance.
• $5,000 loan to Queens Crown Lunchbox and Catering. The loan will allow the owner, Katrina Dawson, to purchase a stove and inventory to operate business.
• $5,000 loan to Garry Sloan dba G.T. Transportation, LLC. The loan will help purchase office furniture, printing equipment and supplies.
• $5,000 loan to Rebecca Jones dba Genesis Tax Service, a start-up tax service. The loan will allow the owner to purchase tax software and equipment.

For more information about Community Services’ microbusiness trainings and loan opportunities, visit their website.