Two small business development initiatives led by REV Birmingham have provided 23 local entrepreneurs with grants and professional services totaling over $415,000.

Read on to learn more about the programs and who received the awards.

Magic City Match provides grants and services

In late April, Magic City Match, an initiative led by REV Birmingham and powered by Prosper, selected eight businesses to receive technical assistance or grant awards valued at $315,000.

The program is designed to match Black-owned businesses with Birmingham brick-and-mortar spaces where they can thrive. Awardees must either be seeking to establish a brick-and-mortar location within the city of Birmingham or already have an established presence in the city.

Two kinds of grants were awarded.

The Open Stage awards help business owners open brick-and-mortar spaces. The business owners selected include:

Colette Lewis, The Toasted Yolk Café ($81,666)
Danielle Hines, CREED63 at McCoy ($81,666)
Natasha Spriggs and Shun Love, Johin’na LLC ($81,666)
Mwannasheria Edwards, Modern Beauty By Mwannasheria ($50,000)

The Grow Stage awards business owners small grants of $5,000 or funding for professional service providers. This includes business coaching from REV Birmingham and financial education and connection to lending resources as needed.

The business owners selected include:

Abra Barnes, The Avondale Sugar Shack
Patrick Packer, Datus Henry Industries, LLC
Sharon Hill, 3 Daughters Beauty Supply
LaRoyce Burrough-Marsh, d’Trespa Consignment & Vintage Boutique

“Any kind of support is a wonderful thing for a small business owner. Being able to accomplish what you couldn’t before – or accomplish something in a more efficient manner – is a game-changer.”
LaRoyce Burrough-Marsh, one of four 2024 Grow stage awardees

Birmingham Open for Business announces inaugural round of awards

Herban Soul Cafe grand opening 23 Birmingham small businesses benefit from Magic City Match and Open for Business grants and services

As part of National Small Business Week, REV Birmingham and the PNC Foundation announced their inaugural round of awardees for the Birmingham Open for Business initiative.

Open to all small businesses in the City of Birmingham, the program focuses on minority businesses and/or businesses in low-to-moderate income areas.

The goal of Birmingham Open for Business?

Connect under-resourced entrepreneurs with the capital and tools to sustainably build their businesses for the long term, ultimately helping to decrease blight, improve public spaces and create more vibrant communities throughout the city.

15 entrepreneurs were selected to receive “Ready Stage” technical assistance or grant awards valued at a total of $100,000.

The business owners selected are:

LeNardo Oliver, Q Rock Movers
Keara Noy, A C’hic Affair
Richard Foster-Bonds, Adachi-Odai Solutions
Henry Burney, Burney’s Mean Greenz
Jamme Morginn, Jamm Dance Fitness LLC
L’Tryce Slade, Slade Environmental Services
Daniel Grier, Magic City Fashion Week
Maria Dominique Villanueva, Fountain Heights Farms
Justin Jones, Sweet Daddy’s Sweet Potato Pies
Esteban Solis-Alvarez, GAFS
Courtney Woods, PC Media Techs
Bianca Jemison, What’s the Scoop?
Judson Young, Beyond Cuts
Rebecca Denson, Sachai Tea Benefit Corp.
Brittney Gray, KnowBra Inc.

Funds will be used to pay professional service providers, including accountants, marketing professionals, lawyers and more.

“Having access to funds designated for growing and scaling a business is crucial, especially for minority-owned businesses.”
Daniel Grier, Birmingham Open for Business awardee, owner of Magic City Fashion Week

Applications for the next round of funding and services called the Open Stage which focuses on supporting brick and mortar businesses are live now and will close at 11:59 p.m., June 2.