Comcast RISE Investment Fund Awards $1 Million in Grants to 100 BIPOC-Owned Small Businesses in Chicago and Cook County

May 25, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Comcast today released the names of 100 Chicago and Cook County small businesses owned by people of color that will receive $10,000 grants from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. The $1 million in local grants is part of a $5 million multi-city initiative designed to support small businesses owned by people of color in Chicago and Cook County, as well as Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and Philadelphia, that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” is part of an expanded commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion the company announced last summer. The Comcast RISE Investment Fund is a component of the Comcast RISE initiative, which was formed in late 2020 to give small businesses owned by people of color, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, tools they need to not just survive, but thrive going forward.  Since Comcast RISE began, the company has awarded nearly 2,500 businesses in 422 cities across 34 states grants and other awards, including:

• 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.)

“We launched Comcast RISE, because we were out in the field every day and were seeing first-hand how deeply COVID-19 was impacting small, diverse-owned businesses in communities throughout the region,” said Jeff Cobb, Comcast Business Regional Vice President. “Our hope is that the financial resources and services we’re providing through Comcast RISE not only help these businesses survive the pandemic, but adapt to a rapidly changing business environment moving forward.”

New partnership with Ureeka will provide business coaching, an online networking community and additional educational resources to RISE recipients 

Comcast RISE is investing in ongoing mentorship and resources by partnering with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide Comcast RISE Investment Fund grant recipients with business coaching to help them build skills in company foundation, growing customers and financial stability.

In addition, all Comcast RISE recipients will receive access to a specialized online networking community within Ureeka that includes educational resources, sources of capital and vetted experts, including the U.S. Black Chambers, Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy and Operation Hope.

“Comcast RISE represents a holistic program that can help advance BIPOC entrepreneurs. The commitment to coaching, capital and connections is critical for historically overlooked communities in achieving economic prosperity,” said Melissa Bradley, Co-founder of Ureeka. “We are humbled and excited to partner on this program.”

Through Comcast RISE, the company also announced plans to support 13,000 small businesses owned by people of color with monetary grants; a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv; or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business by 2022.

Visit www.ComcastRISE.com to apply and for more information and updates.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

About Comcast Business

About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.

About Effectv

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. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 30 million households with video service. For more information, visit www.effectv.com.