Comcast Awarding $1 Million in Grants to Local Small Businesses Owned by Women and People of Color in King & Pierce Counties

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Tacoma City Council Member Keith Blocker along with representatives from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce recently joined Comcast at Work and Play Lounge in West Seattle to announce the Comcast RISE Investment Fund.  Beginning on October 3, and through October 16, eligible businesses can apply for a $10,000 grant at www.ComcastRISE.com.

Margie Haywood, CEO of Work And Play Lounge, and Comcast RISE Recipient and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

According to a 2022 survey, almost all small businesses (97%) are concerned about inflation, and rising costs are the most significant threats small businesses currently face. Boosting revenue from online sales has now become the No. 1 priority for small businesses. Some past Comcast RISE recipients have used their grants to expand their presence online.

To offer some relief and help small businesses continue to grow and adapt, Comcast RISE was formed in late 2020 to give small businesses owned by people of color, the grants needed to not just survive, but thrive. In November 2021, Comcast RISE announced a major expansion to all women-owned businesses nationwide. Also, as early as March 2020, the Seattle Office of Economic Development identified the need to provide SBA disaster loans to local small businesses impacted by COVID and also launched the Small Business Stabilization Fund at that time.

“Small businesses make our communities vibrant places to live and work, and they have shown tremendous resilience over the last two years,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “The Comcast RISE grants will provide a boost for women and BIPOC-owned small businesses in Seattle, investing in an equitable recovery for our city and giving these businesses that make up the very fabric of our communities the tools needed to thrive.”

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

Last fall, more than 100 small businesses owned by people of color in King and Pierce Counties were awarded $1 million in total grants as well as technology and marketing resources, bringing the total to more than $2 million to date. These recipients are part of the more than 9,500 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected as Comcast RISE awardees since the program’s inception. One of the local grant recipients from last year is Margie Haywood, owner of Work and Play Lounge.

“As a self-funded business of more than seven years, facing racism, barriers, rejection and no access to funding like so many others, the Comcast RISE grant came at a pivotal time in my journey. It was the first money from any institution I had ever received. In the reality of the true cost to run a business, it might not have seemed like much to others, but between the award letter and $10,000, it gave me more than just capital to prevent my business from closing,” said Margie Haywood, owner of Work and Play Lounge. “It gave me and my family joy, hope and confirmation that we are seen, and we qualify as business owners who deserve to participate in the business ecosystem. I am more confident after winning, that I am making the right decision as an entrepreneur, that when you use business to build community, advocate and invest in others without expectation of return or benefit, much like Comcast Rise Investment Fund is doing in marginalized communities, you will always get a positive return on investment.”

The Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan area is among five major metros that also include Chicago, Miami, Oakland, and Washington, D.C., that were selected to award a $10,000 grant to 100 local businesses from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, for a total of $5 million across 500 businesses, bringing the amount awarded nationwide to $21 million to date. Through Comcast RISE, the company also announced it will support 13,000 small businesses, owned by people of color and women, with monetary grants; a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv; or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business by the end of 2022.

“Independent small businesses are the backbone of our communities and Comcast is committed to supporting them,” said Rodrigo Lopez, regional senior vice president, Comcast Washington. “We encourage small businesses owners to apply for the Comcast RISE program. The grant may be used to cover any need to help your business survive and thrive. We know no single relief effort can solve historic and systemic inequities overnight, but Comcast is committed to taking tangible actions that can drive long-term impact for change.”

In addition, Comcast RISE invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy and Operation Hope.

Comcast RISE Marketing and Technology Services 

In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women nationwide to apply for grants for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one.

• Marketing Services Grant: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including:
  • Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period.
  • Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign.
  • Consult: Digital audits by Ureeka in the form of Website Repair Reports and SEO Keyword reports to target website mechanics and effective organic marketing

• Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.)

• Monetary Grants: Monetary grants can be used for any business expense. In round one, which was announced in April of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit. In round two, which was announced in September of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $6 million in grants to 600 small businesses in six cities: Miami, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. In round three, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided an additional $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color and women in five cities: Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Twin Cities. As noted above, in round four, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses in Chicago, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, our comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.