YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A workshop held on Saturday helped locally owned businesses take advantage of state grants, aid and contracts.
The Minority Business Assistance Center helped minority, woman and veteran business owners submit applications for state level aid. After a year, business owners are eligible to apply and the aid can help them expand. The issue is that most business owners aren’t aware of opportunities.
Certification specialist Ayana Beulah says the workshop helps lift burdens off of business owners.
“We know that we’re helping them scale their business with you know that larger access to capital. Some clients get very overwhelmed with the checklist. So, we’re grateful that we’re able to be there to say, ‘Hey, you don’t have to do this alone.’ We can walk through the checklist together and send in your application all in one sitting,” Beulah said.
Once approved, the certification is good for two years. Then, they’ll need to reapply.
Crystal Swiggett is business member that attended the workshop, and she just celebrated her business’ 1-year anniversary on May 10. She’s looking to expand and grow her business.
“I’m the owner and administrator of Raising Young Royalty Child Development Center. I just wanted to offer quality care to people who have nontraditional hours and in areas of high poverty,” Swiggett said. “We’re working on up scaling and expanding into a building so I can offer these services to more children.”
Swiggett has worked with children in education for 22 years before opening her own business. Her business focuses on educating and nurturing children who might not have access to quality education at a young age.
While running a growing business, Swiggett is also in the first year of getting her doctorate in education. Workshops like this can help her expand quickly so she doesn’t have to turn people away.
“That’s always heartbreaking when you know they need your care and you’re just like, ‘I just can’t fit you in.’ So, that’s the challenge and that’s why I reached out to Valley Partners and the [Youngstown Business Incubator], because they can give you the tools to expand and get you the services you never knew existed, like getting certified and things like that,” Swiggett said.