CenterState CEO has announced finalists in five categories for its annual Business of the Year honor. CenterState CEO will recognize a single company or organization in each category during the organization’s annual meeting on April 24. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN file photo)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A total of 31 small businesses in Onondaga County that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions are sharing in $150,000 in stabilization grant funding.
CenterState CEO awarded the grant funding. Grants of up to $5,000 were distributed to businesses in health and wellness, service, hospitality, and lifestyle industries, prioritizing businesses that were ineligible for emergency relief funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration, CenterState CEO said in a Thursday news release.
The grants provided “immediate” cash to cover payroll and other expenses incurred during the pandemic. Besides the grant, businesses can also take advantage of technical assistance and one-on-one consultation.
KeyBank Business Boost & Build C.U.S.E. Collaborative is providing the technical assistance for all grant applicants. Those involved include CenterState CEO’s Up Start program, the South Side Innovation Center, WISE Women’s Business Center, and the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance.
“This fund was intended to fill identified gaps in available emergency relief funding. Many of these businesses were unable to access the Paycheck Protection Program and other federal relief funding sources,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said. “These grants provide businesses disproportionally hit by the public health and economic crisis with needed capital. We are also working with partners to secure funding for a second round of grants.”
Of the grant recipients, 74 percent are women-owned and 64 percent are minority-owned, CenterState CEO said.
“I was really excited when I found out I was awarded a grant. So many small businesses are struggling right now. This grant will help cover bills so that I can stay afloat, and I may actually be able to get ahead of the game,” said Wayne Wright of The Wright Cut Barbershop.
CenterState CEO’s Up Start program administered the fund. It was part of a plan to deploy $500,000 in relief funds to small-business communities throughout upstate New York in response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The KeyBank Business Boost & Build Program, powered by Cleveland, Ohio–based JumpStart, provided the funding.
“As we reopen our economy, this crucial funding will help businesses challenged by COVID-19 rebound and sustain,” Stephen Fournier, KeyBank’s Central New York market president, said. “We thank JumpStart, CenterState CEO and all of our partners for their willingness to join with us to provide this assistance and guidance to small businesses in Central New York.”
Grant recipients
CenterState CEO said the 31 grant recipients were the following firms:
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