As part of our anti-racism and anti-bias commitment, Next Street launched a grant program to provide grant funding primarily to People of Color (POC)- and women-owned small businesses using a percentage of our annual profit. The grant program is now in its third year, and we are thrilled to announce the third cohort of grant recipients. Each of this year’s winners are from Philadelphia, PA, and we are grateful to our partners LA1 CDC and Greenline Access Capital for their support in identifying small business applicants. Learn more about the eight selected businesses below, and be sure to check out our 2021 and 2022 grant recipients as well.
Desiree Thomas founded Mindful Arts Dance Academy as a holistic youth arts education center offering dance, gymnastics, music, and skateboarding classes. The Academy seeks to provide students in Southwest and West Philadelphia with a safe place to learn dance while developing their artistic and team-building skills. With the Next Street Small Business Micro-grant, the Academy plans to hire additional staff and enlist the expertise of a marketing professional to develop a targeted outreach campaign to build awareness of the school and increase the number of students served.
Nelson Morales founded El Sabor De Casa, a Philadelphia-based food truck specializing in Colombian fast casual dining as well as fresh juices. With the Next Street Small Business Micro-grant, Nelson plans to purchase bulk inventory to support the development of a new catering business line. Additionally, the funds will be used to make strategic upgrades to the truck including the acquisition of a heated display cabinet.
Minerva Enterprises is a veteran-owned bespoke furniture studio owned by Graham Michael. Minerva specializes in the creation of custom and refinished furniture inspired by classic Scandinavian, Studio, and Mid-Century designs. With the Next Street Small Business Micro-grant, Graham plans to invest in a veneering system that will allow him to create more intricate decorative furniture designs which are currently in high demand. The funds will also support the purchase of a vacuum pump which help increase efficiency and improve profits.
Impresso Coffee is a specialty coffee caterer and micro-roastery in Philadelphia, PA. Impresso Coffee’s owners, Keith and Mariko Perry, have been involved in the coffee business since 1995 and they love bringing tasty beverages to the masses and strongly believe in universal thirst-aid and equality in caffeination. Keith and Mariko hope to use the Next Street Small Business Micro-grant funds to support their expansion goals which include a coffee truck and the development of a small coffee shop that will provide employment opportunities in the Kensington/Port Richmond area.
Yasmine Ibrahimah founded Nii-Adu African Bukateria to bring more African food options to the Philadelphia region. The Bukateria specializes in Ghanaian food and has become a favorite of many in West Philadelphia. Yasmine plans to use the Next Street Small Business Micro-grant cuisine to upgrade her kitchen equipment specifically the purchase of a new commercial-grade refrigerator. With the additional equipment, Yasmine predicts she will be able to expand her menu and reduce her inventory costs.
Adrienne Williams founded Free Bird Greenery initially out of her home and expanded to a storefront in 2022. The business offers plants, flowers, and a propagation wall for starting cuttings. With the Next Street Small Business Micro-grant, Adrienne plans to expand the cut flowers business line by purchasing a new commercial refrigerator.
Anthony Giovanni developed Crate & Press as a modern juice bar concept born from a desire to inspire health and wellness through food. Crate & Press is all about embracing healthy living and seeks to empower its customers to be the best version of themselves. The Next Street Small Business Micro-grant funds will be used to hire additional staff from the local community as well as support the hosting of community meetings and events in the juice bar.
FCR Cleaning Services, LLC is a Hispanic, family-owned and operated cleaning business founded by Francisco Candido who operates the business with his two sons. They provide commercial and residential cleaning services in Philadelphia and surrounding counties. The business has recovered after losing the majority of its contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now looking to expand into more specialized cleaning services. The Next Street Small Business Micro-grant funds will be used primarily to finance epoxy flooring training and certification while the remaining funds will be used to purchase a new computer for business.