By Megan Sayles,
AFRO Business Writer,
msayles@afro.com
On Nov. 16, telecommunications giant Comcast celebrated entrepreneurship and business at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for Comcast RISE Day. In August, 100 Baltimore small business owners secured comprehensive grant packages courtesy of Comcast RISE, a program that equips entrepreneurs with business coaching, capital and marketing and technology support.
Throughout the event, entrepreneurs networked with one another, learned about local business resources and heard from successful business leaders.
Loren Hudson, Comcast’s senior vice president and chief diversity officer, spoke on how “how important small businesses are to the United States and the communities where we all live.”
“You are who we turn to to raise up our community and to showcase what it means to ‘dream big,’” she said, speaking to entrepreneurs in attendance. “You’re who I look to and you’re who I hope my children look to for success…when you dream big, things really can happen.”
Comcast RISE was established in 2020 as a response to the hardships COVID-19 presented to small businesses across the country. Over the years, the program has evolved to ensure small businesses not only survived the pandemic but can thrive in the future.
This year’s RISE recipients were awarded a $5,000 monetary grant, business consultation, educational resources, media scheduling, technology makeover and a 30-second TV commercial.
After toasting the winners during Comcast RISE Day, Hudson instructed them to sift through their gift bags for a golden ticket. One lucky entrepreneur, Shelly Eldridge, found the ticket and was given an additional $5,000, prompting her to burst into tears.
Known as “Shelly the Confidence Coach,” Eldridge runs By Visions Creations, a consulting company that specializes in confidence and goals success coaching for millennial professionals and entrepreneurs.
“I was struggling last month. I made $175 in my business. I was getting ready to take another job, and I said, ‘God, I don’t want to take this job. I want to do what I’ve been called to do,’” said Eldrige.
Comcast RISE, which launched in late 2020 to provide Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, small businesses with the resources they need to navigate the challenges of the pandemic. (Courtesy of AP Photo: Business Wire)
She said she would use the money to pay off a business loan.
“I didn’t know how I was going to do that, and now, I can pay off the loan and still do the marketing for my business and put on an event that I want to hold.” said Eldrige.
Erica Bigger, owner of Whollygloss, said she hopes the Comcast RISE grant will bring more exposure to her business, which provides long-wearing, vegan lip glosses that compliment all skin types. She’s most excited about creating a commercial with the grant package.
“For me to be a beauty business and to get a free commercial, you can only imagine,” said Bigger. “It’s amazing. It gives me that extra push I need to know that this is possible.”
Although he could not be there in person, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott sent a video message thanking Comcast for its support of small businesses in Baltimore.
“Small business owners have a special place in my heart because you are the backbone of Baltimore’s economy, and I’m so proud that you invest some time into growing your businesses,” said Scott. “I know with the help of Comcast, the Mayor’s Office of Small, Minority Business Advocacy and Development, the Chamber of Commerce-based members and other partnership businesses are going to continue to thrive.”
