$540,000 in Grants Delivered by White House Officials
On February 27, 2024, Scranton played host to senior White House officials as part of the ‘Investing in America’ tour, marking a pivotal moment for the city’s small businesses.
The purpose of the visit was twofold: to assess the city’s utilization of federal funds and to distribute over $540,000 in grants to nine deserving enterprises. Leading this initiative were Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to the President, and Isabel Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Mayor Paige Cognetti, expressing gratitude, commended the officials for recognizing Scranton’s effective deployment of federal funds. She emphasized the city’s proactive stance, having set aside $4.75 million for small business support programs, a decision endorsed by the City Council in May 2022.
Central to Scranton’s economic revival is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Small Business Startup and Expansion grant program. This program offers up to 25% of eligible costs for startup or expansion projects, with a cap of $100,000 per business. Notably, previous rounds of grants were awarded in January 2023, March, and June.
The most recent round of grants, totaling $540,231, was a welcome boost for nine local businesses. Key beneficiaries included Center City Print and Empanada King, each receiving $100,000 for their expansion projects. Other awardees, such as Sanh Investments, LLC, and Scranton Pilates, received funds for new business creation and capital expenses, respectively.
Grant recipients, including Alex Molfetas of Center City Print and Alya Palfrey of Scranton Pilates, expressed their gratitude for the federal support. They attributed the success and expansion of their businesses to these grants, emphasizing the positive impact on job creation within the community.
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Looking ahead, the ARPA Small Business Startup and Expansion grant program continues to review applications received before the last fall deadline. Awards are distributed based on eligibility and on a first-come, first-served basis. The success stories of businesses like Center City Print and Scranton Pilates serve as a testament to the enduring impact of the initiative.