{"id":11966,"date":"2021-02-19T09:39:30","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T14:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtairycdc.org\/?p=11966"},"modified":"2021-02-25T16:04:23","modified_gmt":"2021-02-25T21:04:23","slug":"go-mt-airy-business-relief-27k-in-round-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mtairycdc.org\/go-mt-airy-business-relief-27k-in-round-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Go Mt. Airy Business Relief: $27K in Round 4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mt. Airy CDC is pleased to announce the awarding of $27,000 in grants to 24 local businesses through the Go Mt. Airy Covid-19 Business Relief Fund<\/a><\/strong>. This fourth round of funding \u2014 the largest of the four rounds \u2014 brings the total raised since the Fund launched last March to over $80,000. And all of it came through community donations, both big and small. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredible how the Mt. Airy community has shown up, time and again, to support local businesses affected by the pandemic,\u201d said Brad Copeland, Mt. Airy CDC\u2019s Executive Director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The $27,000 of this round came through 77 donations ranging from $5 to $600, plus donations of $7,000 and $10,000 from generous anonymous neighbors. Of the 24 businesses, 12 of them (50%) are minority business enterprises. (In the previous three rounds awarded to 82 businesses, 74% of those were MBEs.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unsurprisingly, business owners have shown nothing but gratitude to the neighbors who\u2019ve provided support through this challenging time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shani Newton, owner of Dolly\u2019s Boutique & Consignment<\/a><\/strong>, spelled out her gratitude: \u201cMt. Airy has always stepped up to help its community. I was born and raised in this neighborhood and have always been a proud resident,\u201d she said. \u201cI am more than appreciative of the support.\u201d [On a related note of community supporting community… After UPS driver and everybody’s friend Juan Carlos Arboleda lost his wife, Shani organized a donation drive through her Dolly’s network to help his family in a time of grief at the holidays.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adina Silberstein, owner of Queenie\u2019s Pets<\/a><\/strong> and a fellow Mt. Airy native, shares Shani’s gratitude. \u201cWe thank, deeply, the members in our community who have donated to this fund, who have canceled their subscriptions with the \u2018big online\u2019 pet food sellers and switched to us, and who continue, in any way great or small, to ensure that we remain vibrant contributors to the fabric of the Mt. Airy community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Shop: Mt. Airy’s barbershop<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

David Biedlingmaier, owner of The Shop on The Ave<\/a><\/strong>, echoed these sentiments. \u201cWhen Covid-19 hit, I was terrified \u2014 first and foremost for the health of my family, but also for the health of my business. Mt. Airy CDC has stepped up in a major way by helping my struggling business during these times of uncertainty. I\u2019m so grateful to be associated with such an amazing neighborhood with such an incredible support system.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the first grants were awarded last spring, they\u2019ve been used to pay wages and rent, to make adjustments in the protocol of everyday business, and to purchase necessary supplies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will use this grant to help us with our continued focus on operating costs related to the purchase of cleaning supplies, equipment and PPE,\u201d said John Polk, Managing Director of the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts<\/a><\/strong>. \u201cOur staff, clients and community have been extraordinary throughout this pandemic and in return we want to do everything we can to make their experience at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts joyful and safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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George serving up the flavor at Malelani Cafe<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

George Drakapoulos, owner of Malelani Cafe Mt. Airy<\/a><\/strong>, summed up these sentiments succinctly: \u201cThank you guys sooooooooo much, and thanks to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Go Mt. Airy Covid-19 Business Relief Fund will continue accepting donations, which disbursement at a later date. Round 4 recipients are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n