The City of Scranton awarded more than $556,000 to support the creation and expansion of small businesses on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Businesses applied for the grants that are part of the City’s $68.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
“The ARPA Small Business Startup and Expansion grants have been one of our most successful programs to date,” Mayor Paige Cognetti announced at Papi’s Kitchen, 2124 Pittston Ave., Scranton. “We are excited to announce these nine businesses and their grant awards and to celebrate these hard-working business owners who are lifting up Scranton.”
In its spending plan approved by City Council in May 2022, the City allocated a total of $4.75 million to small business support programs. Applicants for Startup and Expansion funding can receive up to 25% of eligible costs in their startup or expansion project budget, with a $100,000 limit per business.
The City awarded $349,610 to five small businesses in January and another $301,160.30 to another five businesses in March. Thursday’s awards total $556,588, bringing the City’s overall startup and expansion grant awards to $1,207,358.30.
Applications remain open, and funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis with submissions under constant review.
Grant recipients, the funding they will receive, and their project details, in alphabetical order, are:
- Bazaar Skateshop, 342 Adams Ave., $11,798 for startup costs for the city’s independent skate shop. Bazaar previously received a $5,000 microgrant from the City of Scranton. “Bazaar Skateshop is extremely grateful for the support the city has shown so far. These grants help small businesses in the local community exist and thrive,” Bazaar co-owner Caleb Hartnett said. “We look forward to working more with the city, to help grow the skateboarding community in NEPA.”
- Click Video, 201 Lackawanna Ave., Suite 226, $79,240 for the enhancement of the online communication platform’s training experience. Click Video intends to hire three full-time employees and further develop its REACHUM Advanced Learning System. “We are working hard to simplify teaching tools so that teachers spend less time preparing and more time instructing,” said company president Joy Lin.
- Groove Brewing, 1401 Sanderson Ave., $83,425 for the microbrewery’s relocation and expansion from North Washington Avenue to the City’s Pine Brook section. Funding supports
construction and demolition, furniture, and equipment. Groove Brewing previously received a $70,000 loan-to-grant from the City of Scranton. - Newave Enterprise, 1818 Jackson St., $25,525 for the ongoing development of a community space and business hub. Newave Enterprise previously received a $47,500 Local Share Account grant for the project. “The City of Scranton was instrumental in helping me realize my dream of expanding my small business on the west side,” Newave President Rashida Lovely said.
- Noteology, 537 Wyoming Ave., $100,000 to support the boutique perfumery’s expanded location that now includes a custom candle-making studio, expanded manufacturing space, and retail space for its sister company, Olfactif.
- Papi’s Kitchen, 2124 Pittston Ave., $83,600 to support startup costs for the Puerto Rican restaurant including hiring new employees, interior renovations, marketing, and more.
- Saigon Corner, 300 Lackawanna Ave., $32,000 to support startup costs for the Vietnamese restaurant located in the Marketplace at Steamtown. Saigon Corner previously received a $5,000 microgrant from the City of Scranton. “I want to say thank you to the city and the staff for all of their help on this. It definitely made a difference in starting my restaurant,” Saigon Corner owner Nhung Mahoney said. “It was a big risk for me, but thanks to your help I have a successful restaurant and people are enjoying authentic Vietnamese food.”
- Slick Leagues, 201 Lackawanna Ave., Suite 217, $100,000 to hire personnel and add new product features to its youth sports league and facility management platform.
- Vecina, 540 Biden St., $41,000 for the sewing manufacturer and retail business to employ additional personnel and expand operations through 2024, including plans for a manufacturing facility.
Other ARPA funding opportunities for small businesses remain open. Façade improvement grants of up to $10,000 remain open with applications closing in September. Applications are under review for business recovery grants up to $25,000 and Wage Boost grants up to $50,000 over two years.
Scranton Awards Third ARPA Grants for Small Business Development | Press Release
Information about Scranton’s ARPA plan is online at scrantonpa.gov/arpa
ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021: ARPA is a $1.9 trillion federal economic stimulus bill. The City of Scranton has been awarded $68.7 million in ARPA funds to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its economic impacts. The mission of Scranton’s ARPA program is to give people access to resources, rebuild the infrastructure systems that impact their everyday lives, and foster equitable wealth generation that targets the needs of Scranton residents.
Last modified: August 2, 2023
