- Duke Energy’s partnership with community development organizations will provide grants to help small businesses expand
CHARLOTTE, NC, 15 August 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Duke Energy Foundation today announced 700,000 US dollars new funds will be made available for North Carolina small businesses in partnership with community development organizations. Grants for small businesses range from 1,000 US dollars To 5,000 US dollars Donations will be distributed through 20 community organizations to support retail stores, restaurants and other small businesses looking to expand, upgrade their technology and beautify their downtown storefronts.
The scholarship program is now in its fourth year and has over 2 million dollars of funding for small businesses since its inception during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Duke Energy Foundation’s Small Business Grant Program has led to a revival of small business owners in North Carolina from bookstores to restaurants,” said Kendal BowmanPresident of Duke Energy North Carolina. “These small business grants ensure that Main Streets across our state are well positioned to benefit from economic development efforts.”
Small businesses play a critical role in the state’s economic health, employing nearly half North Carolina workforce, according to the US Small Business Administration. Anna Impson And Rebekah RhodenOwner of Little Pep in Winston-Salemused funds from the grant program last year to beautify the facade of the bistro and attract new customers.
“Thanks to a grant from the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership and the Duke Energy Foundation, we were able to improve and restore our historic storefront and give it the charm and character it deserves,” said Impson and Rhoden. “We are grateful that the Duke Energy Foundation helped us realize our dreams, and we are excited to have brought Little Pep to our vibrant downtown.”
Bill KoenigPresident and CEO of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, believes the funding is essential to community improvement efforts.
“This tremendous support from the Duke Energy Foundation is a huge boost to our efforts to revitalize downtown Raleigh and will be used directly to support our small, locally based businesses,” King said. “Since the pandemic, Duke Energy has set a standard for business support through its generous and targeted efforts to revitalize main streets and small business districts that form the backbone of places like downtown Raleigh.”
Small businesses interested in funding should contact the local nonprofit that administers the program for their community. A full list of recipients is below. Citations from each organization can be found here.
Recipients of the Small Business Grant Program
|
organization |
Counties served |
Grant amount |
|
Alexander County Economy |
Alexander |
50,000 US dollars |
|
Kümmel Foundation |
Anson |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Initiatives in Downtown Clinton |
Samson |
50,000 US dollars |
|
Davidson-Davie Community |
Davidson |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Downtown Asheboro |
Randolph |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Downtown Greensboro |
Guilford |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Downtown Winston-Salem |
Forsyth |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Legacy of the Durham Chamber |
Durham |
50,000 US dollars |
|
Flywheel Foundation |
Cabarrus |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Friends of the Land of Heaven |
Buncombe, Madison, Yancey, |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Heart of Brevard |
Transylvania |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Jacksonville Onslow Economy |
Onslow |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Jones County Committee of 100 |
Jones |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Lumberton Economy |
Robeson |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Montcross Tomorrow Chamber |
Gaston |
50,000 US dollars |
|
Raleigh Civic Ventures |
Wake up |
50,000 US dollars |
|
Foundation Region A |
Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, |
75,000 US dollars |
|
Revitalization of the City of Rutherford |
Rutherford |
25,000 US dollars |
|
Vance-Granville Community |
Vance |
50,000 US dollars |
|
Wilkes Economic Development |
Wilkes |
25,000 US dollars |
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than 30 million US dollars annually provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of the communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina (State)is one of America’s largest energy companies. The company’s energy utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio And Kentuckyand have a combined energy capacity of 54,800 megawatts. Its natural gas suppliers serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio And Kentucky.
Duke Energy is leading an ambitious energy transition with a strong focus on reliability, affordability and accessibility. The company is working toward zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in significant grid improvements and cleaner power generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.
For more information, visit duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on ÞjórsárdalurLinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit Illumination for stories about the people and innovations driving our energy transition.
Contact: Garrett Poorman
Twitter: @DE_GarrettP
24 hours: 800.559.3853
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