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Cash Flow Money News Briefs

SmartBiz Loans Awards $25,000 in Grants to Women- and Minority-Owned Small Businesses

SmartBiz Loans, the leading small business financing platform for SBA and bank term loans, has announced five new recipients of the 2021 SmartBiz Grant Program. The Program aims to support minority, women and veteran business owners during the continuing pandemic. It is an extension of the Company’s mission to help equip entrepreneurs with reliable access to smart capital.

Last quarter, SmartBiz awarded five $5,000 grants for a total of $25,000 to small businesses in the U.S. as part of the Program. The recipients came from a pool of eligible minority, women and veteran-owned businesses. These businesses applied and outlined how they will use the funds to help face new challenges and move forward.

“The SmartBiz team is committed to empowering entrepreneurs across the U.S.,” says Evan Singer, CEO of SmartBiz. “From supply chain problems to hiring issues, we know that brighter days are coming and are proud to contribute to small business rebuilding.”

Awarding four outstanding entrepreneurs

The female grant recipients include Jasmine Parker, owner of Listen to Your Art Therapy & Empowerment Services, LLC located in Spring Hill, Florida. The organization provides art therapy sessions to assist teens in solving problems, increasing self-esteem, building social skills and behavior management. Grant funds will help the organization expand its mobile services.

Eliana Stefanitsis, owner of Molos Restaurant, is using the proceeds for staff uniforms and vendor payments. Molos Restaurant is a Greek- and Mediterranean-inspired seafood restaurant located on the Hudson River in New Jersey.

Fatima Q. Sena owns and operates MPower Fitness, located in Palm Coast, Florida. She’ll use grant funds to purchase gym equipment so she can work with an older demographic. She will also use the money for print advertising to reach that community.

Brandi Dobbins owns and operates B’s Maple House Restaurant in Ontario, California. Founded in 2020, B’s Maple House specializes in soul food, blending California flavor with traditional Southern delights. The grant funds will help support daily business operations and new equipment purchases.

SmartBiz has committed to supporting an ongoing grant program for minority, women or veteran-owned businesses.

About SmartBiz Loans

SmartBiz is the leading AI-powered small business financing platform for SBA and bank term loans, equipping entrepreneurs with access to the right capital at the right time. To date, SmartBiz has connected borrowers with more than $9 billion in SBA 7(a), PPP, and bank term loans while increasing efficiency for its network of banks and trusted lending partners. Over 60 percent of the loans funded by our banks are for minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. More than 230,000 entrepreneurs have utilized SmartBiz to access the funding they need to grow.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, SmartBiz is backed by Venrock, Investor Growth Capital, First Round Capital, Baseline Ventures and Uncork Capital. Learn more at smartbizloans.com.

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