A second round of Diversity Small Business Grants has been awarded to a group of Springfield minority owners.


SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – This week, five winners of the second round of ASCEND (Advancing Springfield, Missouri’s Commitment to Entrepreneurship, Networking & Diversity) grants were announced by the Downtown Springfield Association and US Bank.

Following the success of ASCEND’s grants in June, five additional Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned small businesses were awarded $5,000 grants to hopefully secure new resources and empower BIPOC business owners.

“The Downtown Springfield Association is pleased to recognize and support another outstanding group of local entrepreneurs,” said DSA Executive Director Rusty Worley. “With support from the US Bank Foundation, opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) to create and grow businesses in Center City have grown. We look forward to building on the experience of the first two rounds of recipients to make additional awards in 2023.”

The grants are being awarded based on the needs of the new businesses and in conjunction with input from the Springfield Finance and Development Corporation, the City of Springfield and other community organizations.

One of the five small businesses awarded the money is a specialty hair salon.

Located off Glenstone Avenue in South Springfield, Plaza Style Barbershop is run by Charlton Henderson, a barber who has been licensed for four years and has a master’s degree in counseling from MSU. The barbershop in the black community has historically been a safe place for men to talk about anything: sports, politics, religion, women, masculinity. But he wants to use his position to obstruct the dialogue process. Men learn to be strong and strong at all times. Instead of using the time to chat, his alternative is to use it to promote self-care practices as part of being mentally healthy.

Charlton plans to use the ASCEND funds to learn new services and eventually grow his business, which combines his two chosen fields.

“One of the things I wanted to do was introduce one-on-one appointments so that individuals could have those courageous conversations,” Henderson explained. Something you can’t or won’t say in an open shop. Especially with a male culture, you don’t always have people willing to ask for advice. So this is a middle ground where I hold some things that I don’t get in a mentoring situation.

Rickshaw in downtown Springfield is another recipient of a second round of grants. The restaurant serves American-style Chinese food and has been around for more than three decades, but only changed ownership last year.

Sakiko Kong, a member of the owning family, said the owners plan to reinvest in their business and possibly expand in the future to give back to the customers they have always supported and welcomed.

“Here in Springfield, people are more receptive to new things,” Kong explained. “So I think it would be good if we, as a few, push some new things that will help people understand us more. We’re getting new signs and furniture right now, and that can help with staffing and a new look. We are also working on some marketing work, so we will see what we can do. We would like to add another location in five to 10 years.

The remaining three recipients are:

Lash is captured by Aja Stark. She started her career not only because she enjoys making a difference in people’s lives with confidence, but also because she wants to give her three sons a better life. She plans to use the ASCEND gift to purchase 3-4 lash beds and other supplies needed for lash techs. A long-term goal is to buy a building for her business.

Crystal Campbell owns high-end footwear and apparel. A Chicago native, she and her children consider themselves “sneakerheads.” She knew there was a shortage of exclusive footwear and apparel in Springfield, and wanted to eliminate the need to travel out of state to shop for the latest releases. The ASCEND grant will allow her to set her plans in motion and start her first small business loan.

Snail Art House was created and launched by Chloe Thome. She wanted to provide a studio, retail space, and co-working space for artists who wouldn’t have the opportunity to work with other artists. The group values ​​slow art/fashion principles and recycled materials. ASCEND funding will be used to purchase a four-color screen printing machine, photographic backdrops, shared ink supplies, retail supplies and a shared computer.

Counting the first round in June, approximately $60,000 in ASCEND grants have been awarded to 10 businesses.

“They get $5,000 to help them grow their business, but they also get integrated services from the E-Factory, the Multicultural Business Association and the Downtown Springfield Association,” Worley points out. “Every business has its own needs. They may be buying equipment, developing branding or finding their first small business loan.

And why is this grant money so important?

“Springfield is a very diverse area in southwest Missouri, but we have very few minority business owners,” Worley replied. “The west-central neighborhood that includes downtown has about a 20 percent minority population, but when you look at our small business ownership, it’s less than five percent minority. It’s an area we’ve looked at for growth for a while. As we come out of the pandemic, there are labor and supply shortages and inflationary pressures, so this emerging business It’s an opportunity to support owners and provide them with the financial and other resources they need to succeed.

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