Chamber Grants Give Boost to Small Businesses
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Putting its money where its boosterism is, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce has launched its Small Business Grant program.
The program gives participants a chance to obtain up to $25,000 in grant funds that do not have to be repaid. Since the program is limited to companies with 50 or fewer employees, it puts the money directly into the hands of emerging entrepreneurs at a time when their companies are at a make-or-break point, says Steve Ahlenius, president and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s been a good program for us, because it’s really designed to foster entrepreneurs, that small company that’s just been up and running for a couple of years,” Ahlenius says. “It gives them a little boost in terms of operations, and goes to our core philosophy of what we want to be doing. Innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship are the focus of the Chamber, so this is a key foundation behind that strategy.”
The program joins similar measures at the Chamber, including a business plan writing competition, an arts grants program, and its Innovation Grant program, which awards up to $50,000 for the “next new idea,” Ahlenius adds.
“We want to foster creativity, whether it’s someone tinkering in their garage or a software developer,” Ahlenius says.
Innovation Grant recipient Kenneth Jones says those funds have enhanced his credibility when talking to lenders about fundraising for Plastic Light Rail King, his rail-system company, as he prepares to take his product to market.
“This grant enabled me to get a couple of loans and also obtain a partner,” Jones says. “It’s very important, and I hope it means that we can get some angel investors into the Valley here. Generating funds is something that the chamber can help us concentrate on, so we can invent and get to the market without running into as many roadblocks.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Jesse Knish
