DUKE ENERGY SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF

Duke Energy Foundation & NKY Chamber Foundation Award Small Business Grants

Staff Contribution

THE DUKE ENERGY FOUNDATION AND NKY

Chamber Foundation partnered for the second year to provide grant funding to local minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses. Nearly 100 businesses applied for the NKY Small Business Grants for Minority-, Women- and VeteranOwned Businesses. Fifteen businesses from across Northern Kentucky were selected for grants in varying amounts up to $10,000.

“A thriving small business community is vital to our region’s recovery from the pandemic,” said Amy Spiller, president, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. “These grants will help businesses owned by people of color, immigrants, women and veterans successfully move forward. We’re grateful for the Northern Kentucky Chamber’s continued partnership in supporting our small business community.”

The program was open to qualifying businesses with 50 employees or less that are Duke Energy customers in Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton

GRANT RECIPIENTS

Amerasia Cafe & Bar, LLC (Kenton) BomDia Massage & Wellness PLLC (Kenton) Colette Paperie (Boone) Danyelle’s Bellevue Tavern (Campbell) Galactic Fried Chicken LLC (Campbell) Greenline Salon (Kenton)

Imaginations Abound

Early Learning Center (Kenton)

Japan-America Culture Exchange LLC

dba Nagomi Japanese (Kenton)

Kate’s Catering and Personal

Chef Services (Campbell) Leadership Bridges LLC (Kenton) Reality Tuesday Café (Kenton) Red Bear Inc. (Boone) Rich’s Proper Food and Drink (Kenton) Spotted Yeti Media (Kenton) Taste on Elm (Kenton)

and Pendleton counties. Applications were reviewed by a diverse panel of judges comprised of business and community leaders from a variety of industries, partner organizations and Duke Energy representatives. More than 160 businesses applied for the first round of the NKY Small Business Grants for minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses in July 2020, with 17 local businesses receiving assistance. Leisa Mulcahy, Managing Director of GROW NKY and Vice President of Workforce at the NKY Chamber, says the grants will give underserved businesses in the region the chance to not just survive, but thrive.

“As our local business community and the national economy continue to rebound from the impacts of COVID-19, it is imperative that the local businesses we support – especially those that are underserved – have the resources they need to endure and even flourish in this new economic landscape,” said Mulcahy. “The generous support of the Duke Energy Foundation enables the continued recovery of our economy and community.” NKY

Grant Recipient Member Spotlight

Company at a glance: A woman-owned business in a predominantly male industry, Covington-based Spotted Yeti is a media company that produces videos and builds strategies designed to help its clients increase reach and engagement by leveraging audience insights. Telling stories creatively through video, Spotted Yeti offers a full range of services from preproduction, shooting and editing, file management and backup.

How they will use their grant: The company purchased a new space in 2019 with the plan of expanding its production services, only to see those hopes dashed by the COVID-19 pandemic which halted much of their work. Now back to operating at prepandemic level and having sacrificed savings during the height of the pandemic, the company plans to use its Duke Energy Foundation funds to purchase a new server. This will enable more efficient work, allow for better remote productions and increase overall operational efficiency as the company continues its growth.

Company at a glance: Hailing itself as “The proper place for food and drinks,” Rich’s Proper is located in the heart of downtown Covington specializing in cocktails and seafood with a Southern Creole influence. Located inside the space that was once home to Rich’s Gruen Watches (whose 20-foot sign still hangs off the side of its space), the eatery and bar features a staff composed mainly of Covington residents and sources from local farms, earning its Kentucky Proud certification.

How they will use their grant: Having taken multiple measures to ensure the health and safety of both its patrons and customers during the pandemic, Rich’s Proper plans to use the money from their Duke Energy Foundation grant to increase its visibility in the form of new vinyl electric, signage on its windows, logo tents for outdoor events and a new stove.

Leadership Bridges

Assuring Success for Leaders and the Organizations They Serve

Company at a glance: Strategy. Leadership. Governance. Operations. These are the four areas Leadership Bridges specializes in, working almost exclusively to provide consulting services to nonprofit leaders and their organizations. Leadership Bridges will use the funds from this grant to achieve partner status with the nationally recognized and respected Five Behaviors and DiSC (Dominant, Influential, Compliant, Steady) personality assessment.

How they will use their grant: Like many businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the nonprofit sector in 2020, impacting Leadership Bridges’ ability to provide training to organizations facing severe economic downturns. Joining a national partner network certified in Five Behaviors consulting and DiSC assessments will add tools, revenue and marketing support to Leadership Bridges consulting practice by expanding its services (and potential customer base).

Company at a glance: Kate’s Catering and Personal Chef Services has worked tirelessly to provide safe and healthy meal services in the wake of the challenges that have been a constant presence throughout the current pandemic. As a completely custom caterer, the company has no preset menus or packages, resulting in varying budgets from one client to the next based on their needs.

How they will use their grant: Kate’s Catering has shifted throughout the pandemic to create food service solutions that meet these desires while adhering to local, state and national regulations, even creating individual boxed meals for a wedding of 300 guests. The Dayton-based operation plans to use their Duke Energy Foundation grant to provide bonuses for its hardworking employees with the remaining funds to be allocated for marketing and onboard of additional staff to ease existing team members’ workloads.

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