Nearly 50 Rochester Businesses Awarded COVID-Related Grants

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Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - Nearly 50 local businesses were given a financial helping hand last month to help offset the economic effects of the pandemic.

Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. announced Monday it awarded a total of $209,000 in grants to 46 businesses. According to RAEDI, the Rochester Innovation Grant Program provided grants of up to $5,000 to small businesses innovating their business model, approach, or services in response to the pandemic during 2021.

“From improving air quality to creating new methods of engaging their customers, Rochester businesses showed through this program that they have no shortage of ideas for innovating their models in response to adversity,” said John Wade, president of RAEDI.

Grant priority was given to historically under-served businesses (women, military veteran, and ethnic or racial minority-owned businesses). Any for-profit small business started before July 1, 2021, was eligible, as were home-based businesses.

A breakdown of the grants shows 57% were awarded to women-owned businesses, 37% to racial or ethnic minority-owned businesses, and 2% to veteran-owned businesses.

Award size was based on receipts submitted reflecting the final costs of the projects.

Below are the recipients who received funding and their award amount:

• A Unique Twinkle LLC: $5,000
  A-Z Logistics Inc: $5,000
  Ageless Esthetics Medspa: $4,000
  Arnold Athletics LLC (Detour Athletics): $5,000
  Beetle's Bar & Grill Inc: $4,979.62
  Blue Diamond Restaurant LLC: $2,208.04
  Blue Sky Dental, PLLC: $3,145.50
  Bowlocity Entertainment Center, Inc.: $2,537.74
  Bramel Inc. (Glynner’s Pub): $5,000
  Cashmere Lux Hair Salon: $1,700
  Centric Healthcare LLC: $5,000
  Cheryl Scranton Color Studio LLC: $3,000
  Dahl Dance Inc: $5,000
  Elevate Marketing Solutions LLC: $4,237.51
  Finbrew LLC (Little Thistle Brewing Company): $4,796.69
  Garden of Massage: $4,924.85
  Grandmas Kitchen of Olmsted LLC: $5,000
  Gray Duck Entertainment LLC: $5,000
  Herbal Spa and Nail: $2,966.16
  Immigrant Solutions Center LLC: $4,989.61
  James M Krom Natural Images: $5,000
  Jersey Jo's Inc.: $5,000
  Joes Auto Care INC (Joes Auto & Tire): $5,000
  Johnson Int’l LLC: $4,632.86
  Kristine Phan: $5,000
  Laura Meihofer: $5,000
  Maine Cutz LLC: $5,000
  Master Jewelers, Inc: $4,395
  MotivateMe LLC: $5,000
  NAK Investments LLC (Minnesota Shave Ice): $5,000
  North West Nails LLC: $5,000
  Old Abe LLC: $5,000
  Pasquale and Friends Corp (Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria): $5,000
  Poppi Italian Leather: $4,595
  Rain Nail Salon: $2,962.76
  Resilience Impact LLC: $4,741.69
  Roca Climbing & Fitness: $5,000
  Rochester MN Moms Blog, LLC (wrkshp): $5,000
  Salon Nouvo INC: $5,000
  Save & Give, LLC (EPIC Endeavors Academy): $5,000
  Schmitt’s Stride Rite, LLC: $5,000
  Silver Lake Center, LLC (Silver Lake Shopping Center): $5,000
  Tea Time LLC: $4,186.97
  The Big BANG Entertainment (Big BANG Companies): $5,000
  The Hello Social (Hello Media): $5,000
  Vanessa L Persinger (Vanessa's Hair Studio): $5,000

The awards were funded through the federal Covid-related CARES Act.