Gresham Small Business Owners Awarded Grants Through Comcast RISE

Comcast RISE, which aims to help businesses and their communities thrive through economic growth, will begin distributing comprehensive grant packages to 100 small businesses in Multnomah County. Recipients in Gresham will include All About Automotive, All N Haul Junk Removal, Gresham Acupuncture, Let's Play Again w/Bricks Toys, Sip Herbals and 3-46 GRIT CrossFit.

The grant packages will include business consultation services, educational resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production, media schedule and a technology makeover. The distribution of these grants is part of Comcast’s ongoing commitment to supporting the growth of all small businesses, while advancing the objectives of diversity, equity, inclusion and community investment.

Nearly 600 small businesses in Multnomah County submitted applications for the Comcast RISE grants. Still recovering from pandemic-related economic downturn, many small businesses need external support to navigate the ever-changing commercial landscape. Small businesses are a dynamic element in Portland and part of what makes the city unique. SmartAssets reports that approximately 24% of Multnomah County locals have small business incomes.

Nearly 60% of the Multnomah County small business owners who applied identify as a person of color, and 65% report being a female-owned company. This is notable, as small businesses, especially those owned by historically marginalized identities, were hit particularly hard during the pandemic. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research noted that Black-owned small businesses were hardest hit, suffering the steepest decline (41%), followed by Hispanic and Asian American-owned small businesses. In addition, according to a study by the National Association of Women Business Owners, women-owned businesses have been growing at only half the rate of those run by men, namely because women struggle to access capital and other resources to help them succeed.

Comcast RISE stands for Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment. It was created in November 2020 to help small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, by providing the grants needed to survive and recover. The program has evolved from helping businesses survive the pandemic to helping businesses and their communities achieve stronger economic growth. Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Since its inception, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $125 million in monetary, marketing and technology grants to small businesses in multiple cities across the U.S.

The grant packages include:

CONSULTATION

Assessment of business and tactical planning; business to business coaching; and mentorship to advise on how to grow business.

EDUCATION RESOURCES

Educational content and resources tailored specifically for entrepreneurs.

MONETARY GRANT

$5,000 monetary grant to invest in growth and sustainability.

CREATIVE PRODUCTION & MEDIA

Production of a 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and a 180-day media placement schedule.

TECHNOLOGY MAKEOVER

Computer equipment and Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for 12 months.

In addition, any small business owner can visit the Comcast RISE destination on the X1 platform featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote.

More information is available at www.ComcastRISE.com.