11 July 2024

PROVIDENCE, RI – Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG), a network of more than 1,000 enterprises and over 200 business and community leaders dedicated to growing social impact ecosystems in Rhode Island and beyond, awarded $87,500 to eighteen local small businesses and nonprofits through its 2024 Microgrant Fund. 

Each awardee received up to $5,000 to support key activities or obtain the necessary tools that will help their ventures grow and flourish. Ten of this year’s recipients are alumni of SEG programming, with the remaining eight having worked with SEG partner organizations including the Center for Southeast Asians, the Center for Women and Enterprise, Fuerza Laboral, Hope and Main, Rhode Island Black Business Association, Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber, and the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center. SEG’s Microgrant Fund was established in 2022 with an initial gift from donors Mary Elleen and Chris Patton and expanded in 2023 with support from RI Commerce. 

“We are thrilled to expand our Microgrant Fund, as we enter our third year of providing critical capital to entrepreneurs across Southern New England,” said Julie Owens, Chief Executive Officer of SEG. “In just one year, we’ve nearly doubled the amount of funding and recipients of the Fund, offering economic resources and the support of the SEG team to the ventures feeding our small business community.”

The recipients supported through this year’s grant awards are the most diverse group in program history with 88% being women-led as well as 83% minority-owned businesses and organizations. The 2024 awardees are leading a broad range of initiatives from education and literacy to the culinary arts and functional apparel for healthcare providers. 

“Access to capital is critical for a small business. Unfortunately, it is hard to access networks and resources to obtain that capital. I am so grateful that this fund exists, so that SEG can help break down barriers and enable entrepreneurs and our local economy to thrive,” said Stefanie Engelhardt, Senior Director of Programs and Services at SEG.

Since SEG launched in 2013, more than 2,000 entrepreneurs and companies have participated in SEG programs. SEG was one of the first incubation and accelerator organizations in the country to focus on social impact as a pathway to create opportunities, especially for those entrepreneurs and businesses that traditionally face barriers to access.

“Receiving this grant has been such a blessing. We strive to do our best for our impact recipients and this grant truly validates our hard work. We are extremely grateful for SEG for their tutelage, guidance and support,” said David Morris, 2024 Microgrant Fund recipient and founder of the Right Course, a non-profit organization providing children with free golf equipment to bridge the gap of affordability and accessibility to an otherwise exclusive sport.

“Constellations Cultural Studio connects people, places, art, and ideas to nurture vibrant communities and cultural ecosystems. Funding will support research and development of a community-centered project that promotes community wellness and is useful to cultural leaders,” said Stephanie Fortunato, 2024 Microgrant Fund recipient and co-founder of Constellations Cultural Studio. “SEG’s support at this stage of our social enterprise is critical to discovering how we can strategically use public humanities-based methods to design for social impact, engage cultural leaders directly to address urgent community needs, and to explore new markets and models for our start-up business.”

The 2024 microgrant recipients include:

• The Right Course
• Marjorie Beauty Studio
• Constellations Cultural Studio
• Embracing Sovereignty
• Moms on Missions
• BORN-O UNIFORMS
• LV Professional Services LLC
• Goodlookbypao
• Heroes That Read
• Law Office of Saikon Gbehan, LLC.
• P. Bon Bakery LLC
• Thrive Cakery
• North and South LLC
• Pin’s Kytchen
• VFIT & Tastemaker Publishing
• Artisan Joy (DBA of Words N More Creative LLC)
• Sarcastic Sweets
• Boxed in Black

About Social Enterprise Greenhouse: 

SEG accelerates impact by providing inclusive support and networks for entrepreneurs and businesses committed to positive societal and economic change. SEG fosters an ecosystem of diverse stakeholders who work to enable a more just, equitable, and resilient economy. SEG is based in Rhode Island and operates statewide virtually and from sites in Providence, Newport, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket/Central Falls. Its network of 2,000+ enterprises and 200+ business and community leaders contributes time, expertise, and funding to grow Rhode Island’s social impact ecosystem. To learn more, visit www.segreenhouse.org.

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Media Contact (For SEG)

Chelsea DeCesare, Half Street Strategic Consulting

401.286.9037 | Chelsea@halfstreetgroup.com