{"id":2468,"date":"2021-06-30T17:30:20","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T21:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/news\/?p=2468"},"modified":"2021-06-30T17:30:20","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T21:30:20","slug":"power-forward-grant-recipients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/news\/power-forward-grant-recipients","title":{"rendered":"Vistaprint, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and NAACP Announce the First Power Forward Small Business Grant Recipients"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, Vistaprint, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and NAACP announced the first cohort of recipients from the Power Forward Small Business Grant. This grant is a shared commitment of $1 million between Vistaprint and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation in partnership with the NAACP designed to create a lasting impact through the economic empowerment of Black-owned small businesses across New England, featuring grants of $25,000 and the opportunity to be featured on national co-branded platforms,\u00a0as well as receiving design and marketing assistance customized to their specific needs to help their business grow and thrive.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first group of grant recipients includes 12 small businesses from the Boston metropolitan area, Western Massachusetts, and Connecticut representing a variety of industries including childcare, healthcare, food service, craft brewing and employment services, among others. Recipients of the Power Forward Small Business Grant were notified with surprise virtual visits from Celtics\u00a0center Tacko Fall, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and the team\u2019s beloved mascot, Lucky.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To date, nearly 600 applications have been submitted from more than 460 towns and cities across New England. Nearly 60% of the small businesses who applied are women-owned with 85% of selected first-round recipients being female. The majority of those who\u00a0applied reported less than $100,000 of revenue in each of the past two years. Applicants reported that their main reasons for applying to the Power Forward Grant include assistance building their brands, hiring more team members, and raising capital.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“We are thrilled to be awarding $300,000 during this first round of grant announcements and are eager to get started working with these 12 amazing small businesses to help them with branding,\u00a0design\u00a0and marketing. It is our hope that these funds and our partnership will help strengthen these businesses while simultaneously supporting their communities,\u201d<\/em>\u202fsaid Emily Whittaker, Vistaprint President,\u202fNorth America<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2020, Vistaprint and the Celtics announced a multi-year partnership designed to make a lasting impact on local small businesses throughout New England. The launch of the Power Forward Small Business Grant is the first collaboration within this partnership, and an initiative of Boston Celtics United for Social Justice.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSmall businesses are the lifeblood of a strong economy and our community. We\u2019re eager to begin working with each of these small businesses, and future grant recipients, as we seek to make a positive lasting impact on a diverse group of small businesses throughout New England,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>said\u00a0Celtics Co-Owner and Alternate Governor Steve Pagliuca.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEnsuring that the generations of Black small business owners are afforded a level of financial freedom and business support is vital to developing communities and closing the racial equity gap,\u201d<\/em>\u202f<\/span>said NAACP President and CEO\u202fDerrick Johnson.<\/span><\/b>\u202f\u201cOne\u00a0key way\u00a0to close the wealth gap is by closing the investment gap. The NAACP is proud to be a part of this initiative and we salute our partners, the Boston Celtics and Vistaprint for their investment and commitment. This level\u202fof\u202finvestment in our communities is a seminal moment in America, where we have an opportunity to transform the next generation of entrepreneurs from not just business developers but to community developers.\u201d\u202f<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very grateful for the funds! Our plan is to focus on marketing: we serve such a great and essential product that many are not aware of. With the funds, we plan on acquiring a juice truck that will allow us to go in and serve different communities, starting with the North Shore where there is a great need for juice bars. This is one of our strategies to increase awareness and invite more guests to our shop,\u201d<\/em> said<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Recipient of the Power Forward Grant Vanessa\u00a0Mukanaia\u00a0Kazadi, Beraka Juice.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the state-mandated shutdown went into effect, I lost 75% of my contract staff. My business was at a standstill for months and continues\u202fto be affected\u202fin many ways due to COVID. America’s workforce needs to be revitalized, and\u00a0ManeHire\u202fwill assist in that effort, thanks to the Power Forward Small Business Grant,\u201d<\/em> said\u00a0<\/span>Recipient of the Power Forward Grant Nicole Polite, Manhire LLC.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MEET THE RECIPIENTS:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n