CINCINNATI — Greater than a dozen small companies throughout Cincinnati are receiving grants to assist develop and overcome any obstacles they could face.
Every enterprise will obtain $20,000 from the Metropolis of Cincinnati’s Business Tenant Enchancment Program (CTIP) by way of the Division of Neighborhood and Financial Improvement.
“Serving to to type of create a extra vibrant group and strengthening our regional financial system can be the objective of our Business Tenant Enchancment Program and relieving the obstacles of actually excessive development and materials value which are being, you realize, being realized proper now by our small companies,” stated Gerald Fortson, senior group improvement officer for town’s Division of Neighborhood and Financial Improvement.
The grants can be found to companies which were in enterprise for not less than one yr inside the metropolis or want to relocate to town.
That is the second spherical of CTIP grants town has given out. In 2024, they offered grants to 11 native companies.
One of many companies receiving $20,000 is Selfie Cincy, situated proper downtown.
“We’ve quite a lot of completely different experiences all inside this house,” stated Amari Samya, CEO and proprietor of Selfie Cincy.
WATCH: Native enterprise house owners break down how these grants will assist
Cincinnati offers 13 small companies $20K grants to assist develop, overcome obstacles
Selfie Cincy has 9 completely different interactive rooms the place prospects can take all of the photographs and movies they need. With the grant cash, Samya stated they plan on shifting to a brand new house with double the sq. footage of their present constructing.
“We’ll be increasing to upwards of 15, which is sort of a large bounce, and we’ll be capable of curate an area that can also be assembly the necessity and demand of occasion house,” Samya stated.
Renika Smiley and her enterprise, Lusheous Assortment, additionally obtained a $20,000 grant. They are going to be utilizing the cash to show an previous barber store in School Hill into her dream boutique specializing in ladies’s plus-size clothes.
“With me being a plus-sized girl, and me figuring out how onerous it’s on the market for us, I needed to make it possible for we have now one thing of our personal,” Smiley stated.
The brand new Lusheous Assortment constructing can have a boutique within the entrance, and suites for different beauty-centered small companies for lease within the again.
Lusheous Assortment
“So we’ll have extra income are available and we’ll be capable of spotlight different enterprise house owners and develop inside School Hill,” Smiley stated.
We requested each Samya and Smiley what it meant as small enterprise house owners to have alternatives like this grant to develop their enterprise.
“A blessing, an enormous big blessing,” Smiley stated. “It offers you quite a lot of confidence.”
“The grant alternatives, town assist, the assist of the Metropolis of Cincinnati is essential to us trigger it permits us to maintain our footing and develop,” stated Samya.
Watch Dwell:
Right this moment As It Occurred
