Comcast RISE is staying true to its acronym of “representation, investment, strength, and empowerment.”
Congratulations to the TechTown alumni in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park who were each awarded a $10,000 grant from the #ComcastRISE Investment Fund! 👏
View the full list of #Detroit grantees and learn more about the program: https://t.co/SawuLMQdqP pic.twitter.com/kjoq4BPmxE
— TechTown Detroit (@techtowndetroit) July 29, 2022
Big Investment For Philly Business Owners
According to a press release, the initiative awarded an additional $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses in Philadelphia including BIPOC owners. In addition to $10,000 grants each, 100 businesses received technology and marketing resources.
Since launching at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Comcast RISE has distributed over $16 million in grants and $75 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services for 9,500 entrepreneurs in 704 cities across 37 states.
“As we continue to rebuild from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses still need our support. They are the backbone of our local communities, and we must take every opportunity to help them not only survive, but to thrive,” said Dennis Mathew, Comcast Regional Senior Vice President, according to the press release. “When we launched Comcast RISE in 2020, we knew a profound need existed in the communities we serve. Two and a half years later, we have seen firsthand how the resources from Comcast RISE benefit small businesses.”
Ongoing Support For The Small Businesses
The initiative aims to support 13,000 businesses across the U.S. by the end of this year. In order for selected businesses to keep thriving, the press release notes that Comcast invests in organizations like Ureeka — co-founded by Melissa Bradley, as previously shared by AfroTech — to be a source of mentorship.
Grantees Share Their Gratitude For The Funding
“I am excited and grateful to be a Comcast RISE Investment Fund grantee. Stem education is my passion, more specifically bridging the gap of enrollment in STEM fields by using an integrative hands-on learning approach for early learners,” said Renee Harris, Stem Prep Academy. The last couple of years have been unsettling with the pandemic. The Comcast RISE Investment Fund grant will go directly to Stem Prep Academy’s payroll to pay the staff who have been working so hard in support of our mission to expose early learners to STEM education.”
To learn more about how to apply for a Comcast RISE grant, click here.
