COMCAST RISE, NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, AWARDS 100 ALLEGHENY COUNTY BUSINESSES WITH $10,000 GRANTS

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Jul 26, 2022, 09:00 ET

To date, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $16 million in grants and $75 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 9,500 entrepreneurs nationwide

PITTSBURGH, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today announced it will award $1 million in total grants to 100 Allegheny County small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others. The recipients are among more than 9,500 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program, which provides marketing, technology, and capital support to small business owners.

Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund initially launched in 2020 as a response to help small business owners of color who were hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2021, Comcast announced a major expansion to eligibility, enabling all women-owned small businesses nationwide to apply. This expansion built on the program's success and aims to help address the persistent inequities women continue to face in accessing the resources and funding that are critical to success.

"Congratulations to the small businesses which will be receiving grants through the Comcast RISE Investment Fund," said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. "It's no secret that the pandemic impacted our small businesses the most, and we thank Comcast for recognizing their challenges and the need with this program. Thanks to these resources, we look forward to having these entrepreneurs as part of our community for years to come."

"The Pittsburgh businesses who benefit from Comcast's $1 million in grants are hard-working, vital contributors to our community," said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. "These grants are investments for our future and are key to helping transform Pittsburgh and create new pathways to prosperity and a thriving city."

With today's announcement, 100 selected businesses will each receive a $10,000 grant. Allegheny County's grant recipients include:

Creative Hair Solutions, Allison Park
Embrago LLC, Allison Park
ESSPA INC, Aspinwall
BLINKFLY LLC, Bethel Park
East Side Laser Center, Braddock
Digital Bridges Pittsburgh LLC, Brentwood
More Than Words Fine Papers LLC, Carnegie
Precision Copy Products Incorporated, Clairton
Meles Party Planning, East Liberty
HARRMONEE LLC, East Pittsburgh
Waku Waku Baby Co, Glenshaw
Carlton Speaks LLC, Homestead
Local Motion PGH, Homestead
Nina Lees Hair Studio, Homestead
Una Biologicals, Homewood
DTL Inc, Jefferson Hills
Barber Parlor, McKees Rocks
FAITH Construction Company, McKees Rocks
PMA Tattoo LLC, McKees Rocks
Wood by Design LLC, McKees Rocks
Sprezzatura Pgh LLC, Millvale
RRELITESERVICES LLC, Monroeville
Mount Lebanon Academy, Mount Lebanon
Trzade Salon LLC, Mount Oliver
Kiwi Speech LLC, Oakmont
Jade Scott Design, Penn Hills
Sweet Inspirations LLC, Penn Hills
Helios Solutions Group LLC, Pine
360 Café, Pittsburgh
A For the People Insurance Agency, Pittsburgh
Adey Designs, Pittsburgh
African Cuisine LLC, Pittsburgh
All Bodies Welcome Yoga LLC, Pittsburgh
Amazing Journeys LLC, Pittsburgh
And Flowers LLC, Pittsburgh
Baked True North LLC, Pittsburgh
Behaivior LLC, Pittsburgh
Beyond Bedtime Books, Pittsburgh
Cabaret LLC, Pittsburgh
Casey Droege Cultural Productions, Pittsburgh
Coach Keem Fitness and Performance Training LLC, Pittsburgh
Cobbler World LLC, Pittsburgh
Confections by Casey Renee LLC, Pittsburgh
Constellation Coffee, Pittsburgh
Crisp Forensic Counseling LLC, Pittsburgh
Crust Worthy LLC, Pittsburgh
Family Spinner LLC, Pittsburgh
First Sip Brew LLC, Pittsburgh
Fox Chapel Day Spa, Pittsburgh
Global Wordsmiths LLC, Pittsburgh
Go Phleb LLC, Pittsburgh
Green Empress Juice Company, Pittsburgh
Happy Day Dessert Factory LLC, Pittsburgh
I Dream a World LLC, Pittsburgh
IT's 4 Me, Pittsburgh
Kabab N Curry Inc, Pittsburgh
KidzRide LLC, Pittsburgh
Laced Beauty Bar LLC, Pittsburgh
Levels Agency LLC, Pittsburgh
love Pittsburgh Co, Pittsburgh
Malaika Learning Center LLC, Pittsburgh
Mayfly Market LLC, Pittsburgh
MJ Management, Pittsburgh
New Mainstream Massage, Pittsburgh
Nollapelli Inc, Pittsburgh
Nurie Sushi Inc, Pittsburgh
Otto Finn LLC, Pittsburgh
Palermo Photo, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh FIT East LLC, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh News Inc, Pittsburgh
Post Script Productions LLC, Pittsburgh
Print Management LLC, Pittsburgh
Purposefully Soaring Counseling Services LLC, Pittsburgh
Pyramid Pgh LLC, Pittsburgh
Quinerly Financial Group LLC, Pittsburgh
Rebound Planner LLC, Pittsburgh
Reliable Technology LLC, Pittsburgh
Reset Fitness LLC, Pittsburgh
Riversides Sales Group LLC, Pittsburgh
Status Ent, Pittsburgh
Stories Like Me LLC, Pittsburgh
Tana Ethiopian Cuisine LLC, Pittsburgh
The Care Based Leadership Collaborative LLC, Pittsburgh
The Coop Chicken and Waffles LLC, Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Juice Company, Pittsburgh
The Smokey City's 412 BBQ LLC, Pittsburgh
Tyler Collier Associates LLC, Pittsburgh
USA Professional Karate Studio, Pittsburgh
YOGAMOTIF LLC, Pittsburgh
Zashes Lashes LLC, Pittsburgh
The Gilded Girl LLC, Sewickley
Art in Motion Pittsburgh LLC, Sharpsburg
Wildess LLC, Tarentum
Pinks Tiny Paws LLC, Verona
Mommalicious LLC, West Mifflin
A Mothers Boutique LLC, Wexford
Bottom Line Financial Services Inc, Wexford
Megan M Stock DMD PC, Wexford
Global Human Performance LLC, Wilkinsburg
Lovett Sundries LLC, Wilkinsburg

"The cooks here at Sprezzatura express profound gratitude for the Comcast RISE grant, which will allow our team to lift our heads up from the restaurant industry grind and think forwardly about how we can help meet food access needs in our community," said Jennifer Saffron, owner of Sprezzatura. "How might our kitchen and cafe serve catering clients and cafe patrons as well as ensure that all are welcome to the table for a dignified meal? It's a real question in need of an answer, especially during these times. The Comcast RISE grant provides critical resources for independent entrepreneurs like our sustainable, woman-owned restaurant to make good on a triple bottom line – people, planet, and profit."

"As we continue to rebuild from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses still need our support. They are the backbone of our local communities, and we must take every opportunity to help them not only survive, but to thrive," said Toni Murphy, Senior Vice President, Comcast's Keystone Region. "When we launched Comcast RISE in 2020, we knew a profound need existed in many of the communities we serve, and we have now seen firsthand how the resources from Comcast RISE are continuing to benefit small businesses two and a half years since the program's inception."

To date, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $16 million in grants and $75 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 9,500 entrepreneurs in 704 cities across 37 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, either through the grant program or from the resources provided through Effectv, the advertising division of Comcast Cable, and Comcast Business. In addition to the financial and business support services provided, a key part of the program is ensuring the long-term sustainability of businesses. To help address this, Comcast invests in and partners with organizations such as Ureeka to provide ongoing mentorship and resources to help small businesses succeed over the long term.

Comcast RISE stands for Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment and is part of Project UP, the company's 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.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

About Comcast Business

Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what's next. Powered by the nation's largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.

About Effectv

Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com.

SOURCE Comcast