Comcast has announced a new round of 100 businesses in Richmond, Virginia will receive comprehensive grant packages that include business coaching sessions, education resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production, media schedules, and technology makeovers. 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 is built to help businesses and their communities thrive with a focus on economic growth.
Beginning on May 1, and through May 31, eligible businesses in Richmond 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 2024, bringing the total number of recipients to 14,000.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of Richmond’s past, present and future,” said Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. “We’re thrilled to have the Comcast RISE program returning to our great city and want to thank Comcast for its continued investment in our small business community.”
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.
“As a former Comcast RISE recipient, I know just how impactful this grant package will be in helping Richmond small business owners grow,” said Joye B. Moore, Founder of JOYEBELLS, a family-run business based in Richmond whose tasty desserts are quickly expanding to new locations across the country. “Thanks to our TV commercial being placed into rotation with the grant we received through Comcast RISE, we really boosted our awareness in Richmond and beyond, which helped play a crucial role in the successful launch of our food products in more than 2,100 stores nationwide.”
The program has evolved from helping businesses survive the pandemic, to helping businesses and their communities thrive with a focus on economic growth.
Grant packages will include:
COACHING SESSIONS – Business assessment and coaching that provide business owners with recommendations on how to help grow their businesses.
EDUCATION RESOURCES – 12-month access to online entrepreneurship courses, learning modules and resources for small business owners.
MONETARY GRANT – $5,000 monetary grant.
CREATIVE PRODUCTION & MEDIA – Professionally produced 30-second TV commercial, a 180-day linear media schedule, and a media strategy consultation. (Taxes and other fees may apply for production and media services.)
TECHNOLOGY MAKEOVER – Computer equipment and Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for 12 months. (Taxes and other fees may apply for tech makeover services.)
In addition, any small business owner can visit the Comcast RISE destination on X1 featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the voice remote.
“We’ve seen the tremendous impact of Comcast RISE on entrepreneurs nationwide since the program launched in late 2020, and we’re excited to deepen our commitment to the small business community in Richmond,” said Ray Roundtree, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Beltway Region.
Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators.
More information and the applications to apply for the grant program are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.
