The Mountain BizWorks Catalyst Micro-Grants program is designed to provide crucial funding to creators, small business owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those who have historically faced challenges in realizing their dreams. The program aligns with the foundation's mission to foster entrepreneurial spirit and drive community forward by making it easier for small businesses to succeed, especially those led by people of color and immigrants. The initiative is rooted in the belief in the power of new beginnings and aims to infuse businesses with the capital needed to start, grow, and break through barriers.
The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program are small businesses owned by historically underestimated entrepreneurs across Western North Carolina, specifically businesses that are at least 50% owned by individuals from historically underrepresented groups. The program also prioritizes businesses that are for-profit entities, located within Western North Carolina, contribute to the local economy and community, and have annual gross revenues of less than $150,000. The program welcomes businesses at various stages, from ideation to early-stage startups and existing businesses.
The program's priorities and focuses are on supporting independently owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate a clear need for funding and articulate how the grant will catalyze their growth and community contribution. A significant focus of this round is to support startups and emerging businesses owned by people of color across Western North Carolina. The strategic priority is to invest in these businesses to ensure that every person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to get ahead.
The expected outcomes and measurable results include providing 20 grants, each amounting to $2,500, to eligible businesses in this round. The grants are intended to fuel aspirations, provide necessary capital, and help businesses start, grow, and break through barriers. While specific long-term measurable results beyond the immediate grant distribution are not detailed in the provided text, the underlying theory of change suggests that by investing in historically underestimated entrepreneurs, Mountain BizWorks aims to strengthen the local economy, create opportunities, and foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in WNC.
