Three Shoreline-based small businesses receive grants from Comcast Rise

Enat Ethiopian Market
Google photo

Comcast today announced that Safety First Driving School, Enat Souk and The Grill King Korean BBQ in Shoreline are among 69 Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned small businesses in Washington that will be awarded technology, and, or marketing resources as a part of the Comcast RISE program. (see previous story on Enat Souk)

These recipients of this latest round of grants are part of nearly 2,500 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected as awardees since its inception November, including approximately 100 in Washington.

Safety First Driving School

Both Safety First Driving School and Enat Souk market will be awarded services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable that includes turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign.

Chol Song Enterprises Inc.DBA The Grill King Korean BBQ will receive a “Technology Makeover,” which a state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business including computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period.

According to a National Bureau of Economic Research study, the number of Black business owners nationally plummeted last year from 1.1 million to 640,000 in four months — a 41% loss. Other minority communities also experienced deep losses, including immigrant (a 36 percent drop), Latinx (32 percent), and Asian (26 percent) business owners. 

Comcast RISE was formed in 2020 to give BIPOC-owned small businesses the tools needed to not just survive, but thrive. The program provides grants to Black and BIPOC-owned small businesses nationwide, which includes Hispanic and Asian American owned businesses among others.

Comcast also announced a goal to support 13,000 small businesses by 2022 through the program with a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv; or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business; or a monetary grant.

“Congratulations to all of the grant recipients across our state today. Comcast Business is dedicated to lifting up businesses and providing a human touch that offers them the support they need, and we are truly proud to be able to support these owners through Comcast RISE,” said Robert Brenner, VP of Comcast Business in Washington.

Through Comcast RISE, the company creates sustainable impact and meaningful support for communities that have been hit hardest by the global pandemic and the BIPOC-owned small businesses that shape them. 

More BIPOC-owned small businesses throughout Washington are encouraged to apply now and take advantage of this opportunity Eligible businesses can apply directly online at www.comcastrise.com/apply/

Eligible businesses in Washington can apply for the following:

• Marketing Services: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including:
• Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period.
• Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign.
• Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to drive business.
• Technology Makeovers: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.)

Comcast RISE also invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers and financial stability.

All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy and Operation Hope.

Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. For more information, call 866- 429-3085.

Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business.