Comcast has taken a significant step towards bolstering small businesses and encouraging economic expansion in Southern Colorado by awarding comprehensive grant packages to 100 local businesses. These grants, part of the Comcast RISE program, are designed to furnish small businesses with essential resources to navigate and succeed in today's competitive environment. Each package, valued at over $5,000, encompasses a variety of services aimed at enhancing business growth and visibility, including business consultation, educational resources, a monetary grant, creative production assistance, media scheduling, and a technology makeover.
The beneficiaries of this initiative, such as RAD Hostel in Colorado Springs, ColorSplashPaintball in Pueblo, and The Walter Brewing Company in Pueblo, reflect the diverse economic landscape of Southern Colorado. This diversity underscores the program's dedication to aiding a broad spectrum of industries. Business owners like Erin Welch of RAD Hostel and Rique Lucero of ColorSplashPaintball have shared their optimism about the grants, highlighting the potential to overcome marketing hurdles and recover from pandemic-induced challenges.
Launched in November 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Comcast RISE program has since shifted its focus towards fostering long-term economic growth and community development. J.D. Keller, senior vice president of Comcast's Mountain West Region, reiterated the company's commitment to empowering small businesses and creating a lasting positive impact in Southern Colorado. The grant packages are comprehensive, offering not just financial aid but also coaching sessions, access to online entrepreneurship courses, a professionally produced TV commercial, and a technology makeover, including computer equipment and internet services.
This initiative is a component of Comcast's larger Project UP, a $1 billion endeavor aimed at promoting digital equity through various programs and community partnerships. Project UP seeks to enhance internet connectivity, economic mobility, and opportunities for future innovators and entrepreneurs. The grants provided by Comcast RISE have the potential to not only benefit the individual recipients but also to invigorate the broader Southern Colorado economy by enabling small businesses to enhance their competitiveness in the digital marketplace.
For further details on the Comcast RISE program, including its goals and the support it offers to small businesses, visit https://www.ComcastRISE.com. As these 100 Southern Colorado businesses begin to utilize their grant packages, the region may witness an uptick in innovation, employment opportunities, and economic resilience, showcasing the profound impact of corporate investment in local communities.
