RALEIGH - Southeast Raleigh Promise last week announced the recipients of the inaugural Rock Quarry Road Corridor Small Business Alliance Promise in Action Grant, an initiative designed to strengthen and grow small businesses in the community.

Powered by a $25,000 investment from the Duke Energy Foundation, the micro-grant initiative represents a collaborative public-private community partnership focused on economic vitality, entrepreneurship and long-term support in the Rock Quarry Road corridor and surrounding area.

The program was officially launched during a March 30 community information and networking event at Chavis Heights Community Center, where local entrepreneurs, community leaders and entrepreneur support organizations gathered to learn more about each other and the funding opportunity.

“We are excited to partner in this effort and serve as a bridge connecting small business owners along Rock Quarry Road to resources and opportunities essential for a business to thrive,” Southeast Raleigh Promise CEO Yvette Holmes said. “This initiative reflects what is possible when local entrepreneurs, community organizations, and corporate partners come together with a shared commitment to supporting small businesses and creating opportunity throughout our community.”

The inaugural grant recipients were Mind, Body & Scents; Juiced!; Quizine Orleans: BlackGold Works; APS Fashion Boutique; Fresh Collective; Beyond Yane’; SURA Enterprise; Saa Property Services, LLC; Madame B’s Bakery; Major League Dad; True Outreach; Lil Makers Academy; Charles Devine LLC; Taste of Home; and Kelsey The Creator.

Grant recipients were selected through an application process that highlighted business sustainability, community impact, growth potential, and alignment with the needs of the Rock Quarry Road Corridor and surrounding area. Beyond grant funding, businesses will have an opportunity to build relationships with local entrepreneur support organizations like Carolina Small Business Development Fund, Operation Hope, Wake Tech Small Business Center, city of Raleigh's Small Business Development Team, SCORE and The Wright Village. Entrepreneur support organizations provide entrepreneurs and small businesses with technical assistance, mentorship, networking opportunities, business development support, and connections to resources that help businesses start, grow and sustain long-term success. 

“I'm very thankful to be a recipient,” said grantee Currin Speight, who opened CAPS Fashion Boutique 18 years ago in Southgate Plaza. “Over the past year, the business networking and information shared by the Entrepreneurial Support Organizations have helped tremendously. Now, the grant money will help improve my marketing and increase my inventory.”  

This work is guided by the Rock Quarry Road Corridor Small Business Alliance Planning Team, a group of 12 local business owners who help design and implement programs and identify the most critical needs facing entrepreneurs in the area.

Since the launch event, the initiative has generated strong momentum, with numerous applications submitted from businesses across the corridor.

The corridor and surrounding area runs from Rock Quarry Road at New Bern Avenue near the former DMV site, south to Sunnybrook Road, west along Sunnybrook Road to Poole Road, and north along Poole Road to the Poole Road/New Bern Avenue split.

For more information, visit www.serpromise.org.

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