<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;">
<img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/redilogo.png" alt="Columbia Regional Economic Development" width="175" height="63" style="float: right; margin-right: 0px; margin-left:20px;">
<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;">September 17, 2024</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Trish Koetting
<br />Entrepreneurship Program Specialist
<br />Economic Development
<br />City of Columbia
<br />Trish.Koetting@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%;">REDI announces recipients of the 2024 Minority Business Enterprise grant</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;">Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI), which serves as the City of Columbia’s Economic Development department, is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2024 Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) grants.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The MBE Grant program, funded by the City of Columbia, represents inclusivity in opportunity and the elevation of underrepresented businesses. The grant program underscores a strong commitment to fostering the growth of minority-owned enterprises and driving economic progress.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Each year, we are impressed by the applicants for this grant," said Stacey Button, president of REDI. "The ingenuity and drive of local entrepreneurs is evident, and we are thrilled to recognize these incredible small businesses who make up our community."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Annually, REDI awards 10 exceptional entrepreneurs with $5,000 each, resulting in a total grant fund of $50,000. This year’s grant recipients exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives within Columbia:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brittany Brandt,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Innher Pink CO.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Castile Gamal,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Gamal Castile's Smartbodies LLC;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Valerie Gaskin,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Miss Vee's Kitchen</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ranjana Hans</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Raw Roots Turmeric LLC</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Debra Harris,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Harris Cosmetology and Barber Institute; </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">DBA Luxx Beauty & Barber Institute</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brandon McClain,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">McClain's Helping Hands Services LLC</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Abbey Mitchell,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Abbey's Swahili Delights LLC</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arizbeth Lliana, Viveros</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Perfect Shine Cleaning</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zellvelena Washington,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Belle & Beaux Hair Studio LLC</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stephany Williams,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Biffy Styles LLC</span></li>
</ul>
<p>"Our thriving small business community is one of the qualities of Columbia that make it such a welcoming and diverse city," said City Manager De’Carlon Seewood. "Each of these grant recipients is well deserving of this funding, and I look forward to continuing to see how their businesses succeed in Columbia."</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The MBE Grant is awarded annually to businesses in Columbia, Missouri, whose ownership comprises 51% or more individuals who self-identify as belonging to the following categories: </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">African, African American, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, Native American (including Native Alaskan or Hawaiian) or Subcontinent Asian. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additional eligibility for the MBE Grant includes:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business must be a for-profit entity legally registered with the State of Missouri and have a Federal Tax ID (EIN)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business must have a Columbia business license</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business must be located in Columbia city limits</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business must be actively working with a business coach through REDI or another organization</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business must have 10 or fewer employees (or full-time equivalents)</span></li>
</ul>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">About REDI (Regional Economic Development, Inc.):</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">REDI was founded in 1988 when community leaders recognized the need to collaborate to attract, expand, grow and support local businesses and preserve the area’s exceptional quality of life. Our goal as a nonprofit, public/private partnership is to enhance the vitality of local businesses and increase the number of quality, sustainable jobs in Columbia and throughout Boone County, Missouri. We continue to coordinate the area’s economic development activities to enhance the community’s economic base while preserving its exceptional quality of life.</span></p></div>
<br />
<div class="content"></div>
<br />
<div class="attachments">This release has the following attachments:<br /><br /><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=3219">Group photo of MBE recipients</a></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 style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=8940">View this 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 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>