9 Pottstown small businesses receive microgrants through PAED, Univest

POTTSTOWN — Nine Pottstown small businesses are the recipients of a competitive microgrants program administered by Pottstown Area Economic Development.

The grant opportunity was announced in mid-February, with applications due by March 15. The grants were presented and administered by PAED with funding provided by Univest Bank and Trust Co. — which had pledged $5,000 toward the microgrant program.

The nine Pottstown businesses named as recipients of the grants include: DJ Nails; Grumpy’s Sandwiches; High Street Music; Juan Carlos Mexican Bar & Grill; Laurel and Lace Floral; Philadelphia Granite; Once Upon a Time Consignment; Three Daughters Inn; and Welcome to the Avenue.

“PAED is keenly aware of the importance of Pottstown’s small businesses to the economic revitalization efforts for the borough. We are grateful to Univest for this opportunity which will assist these businesses in some of the challenges they face,” Peggy Lee-Clark, executive director of PAED, said in a statement. “As a 501c3 we are dependent on the generosity of funders like Univest to help the business community.”

On Friday, April 5, PAED hosted an event to present the winners with their grants, and to allow them to share with Univest representatives their stories and plans for the funds.

Each business had its own unique circumstance, yet all shared a common theme, PAED said in a press release — remaining steadfast, focused and resilient regardless of obstacles they may face as entrepreneurs, and appreciation for opportunities like this microgrant program.

“It is a day-by-day process as a small business owner. Even after 14 years, I often hear, ‘Oh, Ron, you must enjoy great success after all these years.’ And yes, it is great to say I have been in business 14 years, but you don’t just sit back and say, ‘oh the work is done,’” Ron Garza, owner, Juan Carlos Mexican Bar & Grill, said in a statement. “Whether it is marketing, or your operation or your staff, every day you must keep focused on the business. We are so grateful for opportunities like this for the small business community.”

To be eligible for one of the microgrants, applicants needed to be located within the 5.5 square miles of the Borough of Pottstown as sole proprietors, partnerships, LLP, LLC, or corporations, with no more than five employees. In addition, the businesses could have gross revenues under $250,000 and were required to be in business before Jan. 1, 2023, and still in operation when the application was submitted.

Funds could be used for “inventory, procurement of equipment, furniture, fixtures, machinery, marketing, working/operating capital and business services,” according to information on the PAED website.

Once the application deadline passed, applications were redacted to be anonymous and then evaluated by an independent panel, according to the release.

One of PAED’s efforts throughout the year is to search for, apply for and earn grant funding, “with the sole purpose of making meaningful impact, albeit small or large, on the economic vitality of Pottstown,” the press release stated.

Univest’s commitment to providing financial donations to support community and economic development created an opportunity for PAED to reach out and tell Pottstown’s small business story, the organization said.

“Small businesses are at the heart of every community, and, at Univest, we have the privilege of working with local business owners every day. It has been truly inspiring to see how they have persevered through unprecedented challenges in recent years,” Betsy Roush, vice president of community relations for Univest, said in a statement. “We were grateful for the opportunity to team up with PAED to offer these microgrants and help business owners in Pottstown address their unique needs.”