Keep Rising Enumclaw. Comcast RISE Returns

Today, Comcast announced the return of the Comcast RISE Investment Fund in Enumclaw. Last fall, more than 100 small businesses owned by people of color in King and Pierce Counties were awarded $1 million in total grants as well as technology and marketing resources. Comcast will award an additional $1 million this Fall in the form of $10,000 cash grants to 100 small businesses owned by women and people of color in King and Pierce counties.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Tacoma City Council Member Keith Blocker, along with representatives from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, joined Comcast today to announce the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. Beginning on October 3 and through October 16, eligible businesses can apply for a $10,000 grant at www.ComcastRISE.com.

According to a 2022 survey, almost all small businesses (97%) are concerned about inflation, and rising costs are the most significant threats small businesses currently face. Boosting revenue from online sales has now become the No. 1 priority for small businesses. Some past Comcast RISE recipients have used their grants to expand their presence online.

To offer some relief and help small businesses continue to grow and adapt, Comcast RISE was formed in late 2020 to give small businesses owned by people of color the grants needed to survive and thrive. In November 2021, Comcast RISE announced a major expansion to all women-owned businesses nationwide.

“Independent small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and Comcast is committed to supporting them,” said Rodrigo Lopez, regional senior vice president of Comcast Washington. “We encourage small business owners to apply for the Comcast RISE program. The grant may be used to cover any need to help your business survive and thrive. We know no single relief effort can solve historic and systemic inequities overnight, but Comcast is committed to taking tangible actions that can drive long-term impact for change.”

In addition, Comcast RISE invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers, and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy and Operation Hope.

Comcast RISE Marketing and Technology Services

In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women nationwide to apply for grants for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one.

• Marketing Services Grant: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including:
• Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice, and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.)
• Monetary Grants: Monetary grants can be used for any business expense. In round one, which was announced in April of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit. In round two, which was announced in September of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $6 million in grants to 600 small businesses in six cities: Miami, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. In round three, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided an additional $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color and women in five cities: Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Twin Cities. As noted above, in round four, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses in Chicago, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.