GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Comcast on Thursday, April 10, said West Michigan was chosen as one of five regions across the U.S. where eligible small businesses can receive grants through the RISE program.
Starting May 1, 100 small businesses in and around Kent and Muskegon counties will have the chance to win a combined $3 million in grants and business support.
Eligible businesses can apply for a grant package at comcastrise.com until May 31. The winners will be announced in August.
Kent and Muskegon were among four other markets – Boston, Nashville, Seattle and South Valley, Utah – selected by Comcast Corporation to participate in the 2025 round after a competitive bidding process, Craig D’Agostini, vice president of government affairs for Comcast Michigan, said.
“Now they’re only choosing five markets out of the 11 regions that we operate in,” he said. “It’s become a much more competitive process, much more focused, but I think it’s a much more impactful program because of that focus.”
For the first three years since its inception in 2020, Comcast RISE was available as a nationwide program. Businesses from anywhere in the country could apply, but the winnings were smaller.
Starting in 2023, the program evolved into a city-based program, allowing a smaller pool of recipients to win more robust grants.
This year’s winners will receive a $5,000 monetary grant, plus a full suite of business consultation services that include:
- Computer equipment plus free internet, voice, and cybersecurity services for 12 months (Taxes and other fees may apply)
- A professionally produced 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and a 180-day linear media schedule
- 12-month access to online entrepreneurship courses, learning modules and resources for small business owners
- Business assessment and coaching on how to help grow a business
Prior to the switch from national to city-based, winners could only choose one of these awards, but now they will get the whole package, D’Agostini said.
West Michigan home to several former Comcast RISE winners, including Delight in Designs in Grand Rapids, Body Builders Collision & Custom Cars in Kentwood, A Solution B in Wyoming and Servicios De Esperanza in Muskegon.
“The saying is, ‘business is never personal’ – but we take the opposite approach,” Christian Boyd, owner of Body Builders Collision & Custom Cars, said in a statement “We’re so grateful to provide a service to the community, and I’m very grateful we were chosen to participate in Comcast RISE. For any eligible business thinking about applying for Comcast RISE this year, just go for it. It’s an awesome opportunity you can’t afford to pass up.”
Throughout the application period, Comcast Michigan will work with local business support organizations like Start Garden and the Grand Rapids Chamber to find the “highest-quality applications, so we do the businesses there justice,” D’Agostini said.
While Grand Rapids and Muskegon were the central markets chosen for RISE 2025, the program is zip code-based for eligibility. Some businesses in Ottawa, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia and Allegan counties might also be able to participate and can check their eligibility online.
Eligible businesses must be established three or more years, have 100 or fewer full-time or part-time employees and be independently owned and operated.
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