Kickstarting Small Businesses: Dayton’s Micro-Grants
Small businesses have borne the brunt of the pandemic-induced economic downturn. To aid these businesses, cities across the US are using federal COVID-19 relief funds to invest in local enterprises. One such initiative is the Resiliency Fund in Dayton, Ohio. Over thirty enterprises have benefited from its micro-grants, which support Black and Brown minority businesses. The grants range from $1000 to $10,000, and the Miami Valley Urban League is expected to distribute over 550 grants to businesses around Dayton.
One example of a Resiliency Fund recipient is Taste-T-Love Baby Food, a small business owned by Kourtney Terry. Terry started her business just before the pandemic hit, driven by her passion for food and her desire for her family to have the healthiest options possible. In addition to selling her homemade baby food online, Terry’s business supplies nine childcare centers with baby food, many of which are in western Dayton. She aims to ensure that parents have access to healthy options, especially with the high number of families using government assistance for childcare.
Micro-Grants: Kicking the Business into High Gear
Taste-T-Love Baby Food was one of the first businesses to receive a micro-grant from Dayton’s Resiliency Fund. The grant has helped Terry purchase new equipment, such as a new freezer, blenders, and other items to make the kitchen more efficient. As Terry expects more orders from childcare centers, she hopes to hire new staff to meet the demand. The micro-grant has provided a much-needed boost for her business, and she is grateful for the support.
Food Quality and Passion: Key Ingredients for Success
For Terry, her passion for food and access to healthy options is what sets her business apart. Her focus is on quality and ensuring that the food is fresh and healthy. Once blended, each bag of baby food is placed in the refrigerator within ten minutes. Every pouch has a full nutrition label, and the contents are visible, so schools and parents know exactly what is going into the baby food. Additionally, each pouch has a sealed lid to ensure freshness. Attention to detail and quality has helped her secure orders from childcare centers and parents alike.
Summary:
The pandemic has hit small businesses especially hard, and cities across the US are investing in them with federal COVID-19 relief funds. Dayton, Ohio’s Resiliency Fund provides micro-grants to Black and Brown minority businesses. Over thirty enterprises have benefitted from the grants, which range from $1,000 to $10,000. One such beneficiary is Taste-T-Love Baby Food, owned by Kourtney Terry. Terry’s passion for food and access to healthy options led her to start her business just before the pandemic. The micro-grant from Dayton’s Resiliency Fund helped her purchase new equipment to meet the increased demand for her homemade baby food, which also supplies nine childcare centers in Dayton. Terry focuses on ensuring the quality and freshness of her food while providing parents with healthy options.
How Small Businesses Can Remain Competitive Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted small businesses worldwide, leaving many struggling to survive. The pandemic has necessitated a shift in business strategies to remain competitive, but it has also provided business owners with opportunities to innovate. Small businesses can use the following tips to stay competitive amidst the pandemic:
1. Digitize your business: The pandemic has accelerated the need for businesses to go digital. Small businesses can use digital marketing to advertise their business, reach new customers, and provide efficient customer service. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can help businesses engage with customers and create lasting relationships.
2. Provide value-added services: Small businesses can differentiate themselves from their competitors by providing value-added services. For example, restaurants can provide curbside pickup and contactless delivery to customers, while retailers can offer free shipping and flexible return policies.
3. Innovate: The pandemic has created new opportunities for small businesses to innovate their offerings. For example, restaurants can offer meal kits and cooking classes, while retailers can add new product lines and create personalized shopping experiences. By pivoting their business offerings, small businesses can find new sources of revenue and attract new customers.
4. Collaborate: Small businesses can collaborate with other businesses to remain competitive. For example, a restaurant can collaborate with a local brewery to create a beer pairing menu, while a retailer can collaborate with a local artist to showcase their artwork in-store. Collaboration allows small businesses to leverage each other’s strengths, reach new audiences, and build valuable partnerships.
5. Leverage grants and support programs: Small businesses can leverage grants and support programs to invest in their businesses. Grants, such as those provided by Dayton’s Resiliency Fund, can help small businesses purchase new equipment and increase their capacity. Small businesses can also seek out support programs offered by the government, non-profits, and other organizations to navigate the pandemic’s challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the business world, but small businesses can remain competitive by pivoting their strategies, innovating, collaborating, and leveraging support programs. By adapting to the new normal, small businesses can weather the pandemic’s challenges and emerge stronger than before.
In conclusion, the pandemic has underscored the importance of investing in small businesses. Dayton’s Resiliency Fund is one example of how cities can invest in their local economies by providing micro-grants to Black and Brown minority businesses. Small businesses can remain competitive amidst the pandemic by digitizing their business, providing value-added services, innovating their offerings, collaborating with other businesses, and leveraging grants and support programs. By taking these steps, small businesses can adapt to the pandemic’s challenges and thrive in the long run.
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DAYTON, Ohio — It’s no secret that small businesses have been hit especially hard during the pandemic.
Cities across the country are finding ways to invest and spend their federal COVID relief funds.
The City of Dayton has awarded business owners micro-grants to help them thrive.
“I always tell people, God put this in my lap,” said Kourtney Terry, owner of Taste-T-Love Baby Food, as she sliced fresh peaches.
He started his business just before the pandemic.
“My American dream was, move up the ladder, be an executive, make money, blah blah blah,” he said.
When Terry was in the corporate world, she and her husband were also raising three children.
“Trying to juggle being a mom, making baby food, going to after-school events, doing all the stuff, and I started getting depressed,” she said.
Terry was forced to dig deep to find her true passion.
“Food has always been my first passion, and I’ve always wanted to make sure my family has the healthiest options possible,” she said.
It turns out that many parents were in the same boat.
Baby food can be time consuming and not all families have access to healthy options.
“There’s no water added, no sugars, nothing else added,” Terry said as he stirred the carrots in his steamer.
In addition to selling her baby food online, she now supplies baby food to nine child care centers, many in western Dayton.
“Many people who send their children to daycare, at least more than half of them, use government assistance to send their children there. And many childcare centers are reimbursed for the food they give to their children,” she said.
Taste-T-Love was one of the first businesses to receive a micro-grant from the city’s resilience fund.
Being able to get new equipment gave the kitchen a kick.
Once the food is blended, it goes into bags.
“We’re getting a new freezer just like this one here, a couple new blenders, we’re getting a few other items that are going to help make this space more efficient. It meant a lot. It definitely came at the right time,” Terry said.
From the moment Kourtney walks into the farmers market or the store, she’s already thinking about the quality of the food. Once blended, each bag is placed in the refrigerator within 10 minutes. Each pouch also has a full nutrition label and you can see inside the pouch, so schools and parents know exactly what’s going into the baby food. Each pouch also has a sealed lid to ensure freshness.
Terry expects more orders for the childcare center and eventually hopes to hire some staff to help.
Starting her business and running it hasn’t been easy, but her passion for access to healthy food is what keeps her going.
“Whatever you’re passionate about, do it and don’t give up when it gets tough,” she said with a smile.
Dayton’s Resiliency Fund money is used to help Black and Brown minority businesses.
There are three levels of grants, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
So far, more than 30 enterprises have obtained financing.
The Miami Valley Urban League is expected to distribute more than 550 grants to businesses around Dayton.
https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/dayton/news/2023/05/27/dayton-baby-food-maker-brings-healthy-options-to-the-community
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