Grow MHC 2022 awardees

“Immediately is a superb day to have a good time our rising companies right here in Martinsville and in Henry County,” Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Watkins mentioned.

Shelia Williams, proprietor of Model Builders LLC, acquired $5,500 in award cash. Williams’ enterprise is a promotional merchandise distributor enterprise began greater than 20 years in the past. She is increasing the enterprise.

The cash Williams acquired will go towards the price of a bit of kit that she mentioned will complete $21,000 and can permit her to do engraving with a UV LED printer.

Naquias Johnson, proprietor of Tammy’s Grill, acquired a money award of $5,500. Johnson began his enterprise with a meals truck in honor of his mom in 2018 and has gone by each Startup and Develop MHC applications.

The cash Johnson acquired will go towards the price of shifting into Tammy’s Grill’s a constructing at 2023 Virginia Ave. within the Vacation Procuring Middle. Watkins estimated that the price of renovations that have to be finished to the constructing at roughly $70,000.

Efficiency 276, owned by LaDonna Hairston and Jerelle Carter, acquired a money award for $5,500. The enterprise is a well being, wellness and health enterprise that opened in uptown Martinsville in 2016 earlier than shifting to a location on Memorial Boulevard when it wanted extra room.

Hairston and Carter plan to make use of the cash to assist increase their providers to incorporate well being training in partnership with the Middle for Illness Management (CDC) Forestall Kind 2 Diabetes curriculum, United Means’s Continual Illness Self-Administration program and The Arthritis Basis Stroll with Ease Program.

Hairston mentioned that she has accomplished the coaching essential to turn out to be an authorized well being supplier, making her a persistent illness self-management coach, and this permits her to invoice insurance coverage firms for persistent well being providers.

Candy Heaven Inc. proprietor Shalita Armstrong was awarded a $5,500 examine for her enterprise. The cash will assist the enterprise relocate to the uptown Martinsville enterprise district and increase choices by buying new gear.

One enterprise, ABC Planners, owned by Kevin Johnson who’s the developer and producer of planner methods that gives water and aeration, acquired a one-year membership to Patrick and Henry Neighborhood Faculty’s Fab Lab to assist ABC discover its enterprise mannequin for future manufacturing.

In 2015 Develop MHC started as a neighborhood enterprise launch program and immediately it has graduated nearly 300 small enterprise homeowners. This system has given greater than $485,724 in money and in-kind funding to these graduates, representing $4.5 million plus in new capital funding and 255 new jobs.

This yr’s program that ended within the fall had 11 graduates representing 9 companies. Out of these, a few of them went on to compete and current enterprise plans and 4 acquired money awards which had been offered on the awards ceremony.

“I’m lucky to have the ability to have participated in these applications for the reason that very starting,” Martinsville Metropolis Supervisor Leon Towarnicki mentioned. “I proceed to be impressed with the folks that dwell domestically and people who work to begin up their very own enterprise.”

“Congratulations to every of you,” Henry County Administrator Dale Wagoner mentioned. “Thanks for permitting me to be part of the method. It was thrilling to listen to your pitches. It was thrilling to hearken to your enterprise plans and let me guarantee you, your enterprise plans are strong so I encourage you to work your plan.”

Program companions embody: The Nameless Fund by the Neighborhood Basis Serving Western Virginia, The George Lester II Fund, Longwood Small Enterprise Improvement Middle, Patrick and Henry Neighborhood Faculty, The Campbell Household Group, Tobacco Area Revitalization Fee, Appalachian Energy, American Nationwide Financial institution, Martinsville Metropolis and Henry County.

“Thanks for … placing all the pieces you will have in danger as a result of with out that we wouldn’t have small enterprise development in our neighborhood,” Watkins mentioned.