Think Big awards nearly $25K in mini-grants to 11 minority- and women-owned businesses in Rockford

May 16, 2023|By Kevin Haas|In Rockford, Trending, Positive & Uplifting, 815 News, Local
Think Big and the Rockford IceHogs Community Foundation provided $24,500 in mini-grants Monday, May 15, 2023, to 11 local entrepreneurs. The nonprofit strives to support minority- and women-owned businesses. (Photo provided by Rae Aja Horton/Think Big)
From news release
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Think Big has awarded nearly $25,000 in mini-grants to 11 minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the community.

The nonprofit, which works to help minority- and women-owned businesses grow and flourish, partnered with the Rockford IceHogs Community Foundation to support small businesses with focuses that include beauty, health, restaurant, automotive repair, floral, transportation and home décor.

“There has never been an entity in the community like Think Big; that cultivates minority-owned and women-owned businesses with classes and now funding to ensure sustainability and growth,” Duntai Mathews, who co-founded Think Big with Sheila Hill, said in a news release. “This is why Sheila and I started Think Big.”

More grants: Alpine Kiwanis Club awards $30K in scholarships to 10 Rockford-area students

The $24,500 in grants, which are supported by funding from the IceHogs Community Foundation, were celebrated Monday. The recipients attended and graduated from Think Big School of Business and received one-on-one business coaching.