<div style="margin-top: 20px;"><img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/citylogo-redi.png" alt="City of Columbia Missouri" width="175" height="101" style="margin-right: 5px;">
<div style="padding-top:40px;
text-align:center;">
<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">500 East Walnut Street
<br />
Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
</div>
<div style="clear:both; text-align:center; padding-top: 20px;">
<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">November 2, 2021</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: James Whitt
<br />Executive Director
<br />SEED Grant Program
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.441.5544
<br />James.Whitt@CoMo.gov</p>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">The fall 2021 Sharp End Entrepreneurial Development Fund announces finalists</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The fall 2021 Sharp End Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) Grant Program finalists have been announced for the upcoming SEED Grant Awards Program, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 9. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The following five established businesses and five startup businesses were selected:<br /><br /></span><strong><em>Established Businesses</em><br /></strong><strong>CiCi's Boutique</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, owned by Amber Herndon<br /></span><strong>J's Cleaning Solution</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, owned by Jessica Cason<br /></span><strong>HAM Brand LLC</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, owned by James Devin Griffin <br /></span><strong>Total Accounting Services</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, owned by April D. Pinkett<br /></span><strong>Crowned Counseling</
strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, owned by Christine Woods, EdD, LCSW<br /><br /></span><strong><em>Startup Businesses</em><br /></strong><strong>Precision Notary, </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">owned by Anissa Cox<br /></span><strong>Ready Pawn Shop, LLC, </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">owned by Reuutasha L. Belcher-Harris<br /></span><strong>The Garden Of Eden Early Learning Center,</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> owned by Carla Walker<br /></span><strong>Glossy By Meyah Jae,</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> owned by Katrina Daniels<br /></span><strong>Nya Renee Designs, </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">owned by Janiya McClain<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sharp End Entrepreneurial Development Fund supports minority and women owned businesses in and around Columbia by providing financial assistance, through grants and micro loans, and through the facilitation of mentoring between successful minority
entrepreneurs and grant recipients. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The fund also strives to build long-term relationships with businesses to offer support through the challenges of startup and growth. "</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of our strategic goals has been to help startup businesses. We are very pleased to have five startups join our list of finalists," said SEED Program Director Jim Whitt.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anissa Cox of Precision Notary said, "</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a new startup company we are truly grateful to be a finalist in the SEED Program. We feel honored and can’t wait to provide bespoke services in the Columbia Community."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following interviews with the SEED Committee on Nov. 2 and 3, the SEED Grant Awards will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021.</span></p></div>
<br />
<div class="content"></div>
<br />
<div class="attachments"></div>
</div>
<div id="footerline">
<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
</div>
<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
</div>
<style>
#pressrelease{ margin:20px; margin-top: 0px;}
.attachments{margin-top: -10px;}
@media print {
body {font-size: 90%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;}
#pressrelease{ margin: 0px; }
}
</style><p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=7762">View this press release on CoMO.gov or access a sharable link.</a></p><p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>Archived press releases can be viewed online at:
https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/directory.php</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided at https://www.como.gov/Web_Mail/ </p><style>div{margin: 10px;}</style>