Comcast Rise accepts grant applications from minority-owned businesses in Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck

Pink Poodle Dress Lounge received grant last fall

DETROITComcast has created a program aimed specifically at minority-owned small businesses.

The Pink Poodle Dress Lounge in Detroit is a wedding fairyland.

For Raeshawn Bumphers, keeping the business afloat during COVID has been a struggle. Her bridal and party dress boutique in Detroit suffered.

READ: More business coverage

Starting a small business as a Black woman is an uphill battle, according to studies done by CNBC and American Express. The studies found that while Black women are starting more businesses than men or other ethnic groups, they are less likely to get funding.

Comcast said it saw the disparities in funding and last fall created the RISE Investment Grant program. The program is specifically for Black, indigenous and people of color who own businesses in Detroit, Highland Park or Hamtramck.

“We know businesses have been hit hard,” Rob Ponto with Comcast said. “Small businesses that are in need.”

The first round of funding was offered last fall. Applications for another round of grants is open until May 7.

Click here to apply or get more information.


About the Authors:

Paula Tutman is an Emmy award-winning journalist who came to Local 4 in 1992. She's married and the stepmother of three beautiful and brilliant daughters. Her personal philosophy in life, love and community is, "Do as much as you can possibly do, not as little as you can possibly get away with".

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.