Independent small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and today, more than ever, small businesses owned by people of color are hurting. Small businesses continue to deal with the ongoing impact of the pandemic and environmental events.
Comcast is committed to supporting small businesses that have been hit the hardest by the economic impact of the pandemic. That is why we developed Comcast RISE with support from Comcast Business and Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable.
Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment. These are the cornerstones of Comcast RISE, our multi-year commitment to provide marketing, creative, media, and technology services to small businesses owned by people of color. Through Comcast RISE we aim to create a sustainable impact and give meaningful support to the small businesses that are shaping our communities.
On October 1st, we will launch the next wave of our Comcast RISE program in Washington. In addition to offering services, Comcast will provide one million dollars in monetary grants to help local small businesses owned by people of color. $10,000 monetary grants will be provided to 100 independent small businesses in King and Pierce Counties.
And statewide, Comcast RISE will continue to offer marketing, creative, media, and technology services to help small businesses survive and thrive. Beginning on October 1, and through October 14, eligible businesses can apply for Comcast RISE monetary grants, and, or marketing and technology Services at www.ComcastRISE.com. Winners will be notified in November.
To help drive awareness about the program and provide additional support and training in King and Pierce Counties, we are partnering with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Latino Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA).
The Investment Fund is an extension of Comcast RISE, the multi-year, multi-faceted initiative launched in October 2020 to support small businesses owned by people of color and provide the resources and tools they need to thrive for years to come. The Comcast RISE Investment Fund is focused on small businesses that have been in business for three or more years with 1-25 employees.
Comcast RISE is part of an expanded Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) commitment that Comcast announced in June 2020, as well as an ongoing cross-company effort to address digital inequities. Over the next 10 years, Comcast is pledging $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will connect an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.
We know that Comcast alone can’t remedy complex, systemic issues. But we are deeply committed to playing a role in driving change. We encourage eligible small businesses to apply October 1-14 and take advantage of this opportunity.https://youtu.be/vDS0xIFr6O4
