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St. Pete Small Business Week wraps up with grants, mural announcement
Local artist John Gascot will be creating a mural celebrating small businesses at The Greenhouse, a small business assistance center in St. Petersburg.
Gascot, himself a small business owner, will design and paint the mural on the concrete entrance to The Greenhouse, at 440 2nd Ave. N.
Posted by St. Petersburg Greenhouse on Friday, October 23, 2020
Gascot worked on a section of the Black Lives Matter mural. “This is a whole new canvas for me,” Gascot said during a Facebook Live announcement Friday afternoon.
Greenhouse co-manager Kim Vogel and Jessica Eilerman, small business liaison to St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman’s office (and Greenhouse co-manager), also announced the winners of $500 microgrants awarded by the Greenhouse in three categories. All were chosen by a random drawing.
Whitney Sanchez for Greenhouse participation, a category for those investing in a business or business idea and who participated in mentorships, workshops or other training The Greenhouse has offered in the last 30 days.
Alex and Kelly Rodriguez, Kaboom Concepts, Lolita’s Wine Market and Sophia’s Cucina & Enoteca, for participation during the Covid-19 pandemic. This category was for businesses that worked with the business resiliency emergency response team. The team worked with more than 225 small businesses during the pandemic.
Marilyn Mendez, for participation during Small Business Week activities.
Related: St. Pete Greenhouse builds a map of small businesses in the city
Related: Here’s who took the top spot at St. Pete Pitch Night
Small businesses are the backbone of the community, St. Petersburg City Council Chairman Ed Montanari said in a message posted on Twitter.
We’ve had such an amazing week celebrating the “flavor and flair” of @stpetefl – our local small businesses! THANK YOU for joining us to help #SupportStPeteBiz
City of St. Pete Council Chair, @EdMontanari, shared a message to help us close St. Pete Small Business Week 🎉 pic.twitter.com/tpsqcoD9NX
— St. Pete Greenhouse (@STPGreenhouse) October 23, 2020
Eilerman ended the week with a challenge for the community.
“I am asking you to join me and so many others in recommitting to your support of our local small businesses. As we continue to move nearer to the holiday season, let’s start now by looking local, first,” she wrote in a blog post on The Greenhouse website.
