Comcast RISE Awards 13 Black-Owned, Small Businesses in Twin Cities with Marketing and Technology Resources and Makeovers

Comcast has announced the first round of Comcast RISE award recipients, with over 700 businesses nationwide receiving consulting, media and creative production services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or technology upgrades from Comcast Business, based on the specific needs. This includes 13 small businesses in the Twin Cities, from restaurants and salons to professional services and retail shops.

Comcast RISE is a multiyear, multi-faceted initiative launched in October to help strengthen small businesses hard hit by COVID-19. Program eligibility is now open to include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, small businesses. Applications are being accepted at www.ComcastRISE.com.

“We are thrilled to be selected for the Comcast Twin Cities RISE grant,” said Justin Butler, General Manager, Duck Donuts of Woodbury. “2020 has brought several unique challenges to businesses in the Twin Cities and we are pleased to see Comcast deploy value-added services to help businesses through this period and lay a foundation for future growth.”

“I’m not really technology savvy, so when I found out I was one of the winners of the Comcast RISE marketing and technology makeovers I was really excited,” said Davia Wright, owner of Clawed by Davia. “I can’t wait to take my business to the next level!”

RISE recipients in the Twin Cities include:

• Sammy’s Avenue Eatery, LLC
• Duck Donuts of Woodbury
• TenderCare Learning Center, LLC
• West Indies Soul Food, Inc.
• Hearthside Pizza
• The Zen Bin, LLC
• Clawed By Davia
• Wellspring Second Chance Center
• Junita’s Jar
• Juice With Love, LLC
• Independent Living Partners, LLC
• The Creative Studio MN
• Vivid Concepts Media

The first phase of Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” focused on U.S. Black-owned small businesses, those hit hardest by the pandemic according to a recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Comcast RISE brings together two of the company’s brands — Comcast Business and Effectv, both with expertise in the small business space — to empower business owners with the expertise and resources needed to navigate the economic effects of the pandemic.

“At a time when so many in our small business communities are struggling, it’s incredibly humbling to be able to give back and share our knowledge and resources with those hit hardest by the pandemic. We want to help our partners and communities rise,” said J.D. Keller, regional senior vice president, Comcast Twin Cities. “I could not be more pleased to open this program to the entire BIPOC community and continue this positive momentum.”

“I applied to the Twin Cities RISE grant because I recognized this was the opportunity needed to help small businesses get to the next level,” said Sharon Richards-Noel, owner of West Indies Soul Food. “To be a winner means that we now will have the ability to achieve the marketing visibility that is necessary for the growth of our business.”

William Schultz of Vivid Concepts Media agreed. “Being selected as a RISE winner is a true honor! I’m excited to be able use the resources I will receive as the catapult we needed to get to the next level and expand on the projects the company is able to take on. I am greatly thankful to Comcast for this amazing opportunity!”

Comcast RISE consists of the following main components:

A media and technology resources program: This pillar combines Effectv’s renowned media platform and marketing expertise, its award-winning creative agency, Mnemonic, and state-of-the-art technical support from Comcast Business to help small businesses foster and elevate growth. Recipients will receive help with their marketing, media campaigns and creation of 30-second commercials, as well as equipment and technology upgrades, including:

• Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to grow their business.
• Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period.
• Creative Production: Turnkey :30 TV commercial production for their businesses.
• Technology Makeovers: Computer equipment and Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.)

Business resources to help with curated content: Comcast has launched the Comcast RISE destination complete with aggregated small business news, tips, insights and more on the X1 platform. The destination is designed to help businesses grow by empowering them through education, inspiration and entertainment. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote.

Grants: In early 2021, Comcast will be awarding grants of up to $10,000 each for U.S.-based small and diverse businesses that have been in operation for three to five years.

Comcast RISE is part of a larger $100 million Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative that Comcast launched this summer. In June, Comcast NBCUniversal announced the development of a comprehensive, multiyear plan to allocate $75 million in cash and $25 million in media over the next three years to fight injustice and inequality against any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability.

Visit www.ComcastRISE.com to apply, for more information and the latest updates.