Mt. Airy CDC is pleased to announce that we’ve completed a third round of the Mt. Airy COVID-19 Business Relief Fund. With a $5,000 seed from the Mt. Airy Business Improvement District and 70 additional donations from the community totaling over $21,000, we’ve disbursed this round of funding to 29 businesses.
To date, the Fund has raised over $47,000 from 130 donations. The money has been distributed to 52 businesses in Mt. Airy and surrounding areas, 74% of which are Minority Business Enterprises.
“This fund has exceeded our expectations and really demonstrates how committed the Mt. Airy community is in supporting its local businesses,” said Brad Copeland, Executive Director of Mt. Airy CDC.
Mt. Airy BID Chair Ken Weinstein added, “Mt. Airy’s small businesses are the backbone of our commercial corridor, and they are on life support right now. Local residents, and others who strongly support our locally owned businesses, stepped up in a big way during this difficult time.”
In the midst of the COVID-19 shutdown, many businesses have scrambled just to stay afloat, and much of the available government funding, such as the CARES Act’s Payroll Protection Program, dried up before local businesses’ applications could even be processed. So the donations from the Mt. Airy community have proven critical. Now, as Philadelphia moves slowly toward reopening, the funds are more important than ever.
Jennifer Low, owner of The Frosted Fox Cake Shop, has her eyes set on reopening: “As a small business owner and a mother, the past three months have been the most uncertain of my life. Today, I am finally getting ready to reopen and this grant will help me cover the costs of this second ‘startup,’” she said. “I love being part of the Mt. Airy and Germantown communities — so many people have checked in on me and my family and I have been so astounded by the generosity our neighbors have shown us.”
Erykah Johnson, owner of DivaErykah’s Apothecary, echoes her sentiment. “I am thankful for and appreciative of the Mt. Airy Covid-19 Business Relief Fund,” she said. “I can purchase supplies and maintain my store due to the generous donation. After completing numerous applications on the internet to stay afloat, the Mt. Airy was the one to come through with aid. I am thankful & excited!”
In total, over $26,000 was disbursed to the following businesses:
- A&D Family Hair Salon
- Al Muhsinun Construction
- Au Revoir Travel
- Blue Banyan Yoga Studio
- Capstone Services and Consulting
- Childspace Daycare Centers
- Collage Hair Studio
- Diva Erykah’s Apothecary
- Diverse Body Sculpturing Inc
- Dolly’s Boutique
- Donna’s Business Services, LLC
- First Round Facility Solutions
- Grain Exchange and Pizzeria Nonna
- Herb Scott Catering
- HLS Photography
- Journey To Lotus
- Law Offices of Tina Lawson
- Little Magic Moments Academy
- Living Inspired Wellness
- Luminous Heart Massage & Reiki
- Nostalgic Eye Care
- Our House Culture Center
- Outlaw Arts (dba Six Senses Clay Studio)
- PWPvideo
- Q Nails Spa
- Sacred Paradise Spa
- The Frosted Fox Cake Shop
- The Shop on the Avenue
- Vivid Hair Salon
See details on Round 1 HERE and Round 2 HERE.
Mt. Airy CDC is extremely grateful to all donors small and large for making the Mt. Airy COVID-19 Business Relief Fund a success. We look forward to supporting all of these small businesses as they safely reopen.
