Terre Haute – The United Way of the Wabash Valley and the City of Terre Haute are excited to announce the award of $1,500,000 through their Small Business Grant Program to the community.  This funding opportunity was made possible by the City of Terre Haute’s American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA funding that was allocated to the United Way by the City Council.  This program will invest $1,500,000 into 26 local businesses. 

Mayor Brandon Sakbun, explained, “Supporting our small businesses is essential to fostering a thriving and resilient community. With the help of ARPA funding, we are able to invest in local businesses that not only drive our economy but also create jobs and enhance the quality of life in Terre Haute. We are incredibly grateful for the ARPA funding that was made available and for the opportunity to invest in the future of our community. These grants will have a lasting impact, and we look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of our small businesses.”  

The Small Business Grant Program was developed to provide financial support for small businesses in the City of Terre Haute with the goals of retaining existing businesses and increasing growth and revenue.  The program focuses on multiple pillars of the See You In Terre Haute Community Plan, including economic development, quality of life, and talent attraction and retention.  These grants are intended to help small businesses grow and increase the overall resiliency of local businesses in the City of Terre Haute.  Businesses could apply for infrastructure enhancement, capital expenditures, service provider assistance, marketing, employee attraction, and workforce development.  The 26 grant awards range from $10,000 to $100,000 per grant.   

The grant process was highly competitive with over 60 businesses submitting formal applications seeking over $4 million in funding.  United Way of the Wabash Valley oversaw the grant and used its well-established process of evaluating grant applications. There were eight review teams comprised of 40 volunteers who evaluated and ranked the applications.  The review team volunteers represented many sectors of our community, including large and small businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and service organizations. To guide their evaluations, volunteers used a standard scoring rubric.  Of the 26 small business award recipients: 2 are veteran-owned, 8 are minority-owned, and 17 are women-owned. 

 

Award winners include: 

• Afterburner Brewing Company: $47,952: Production and distribution expansion with purchase of additional equipment. 

• Bar Botics: $56,919: Seating, equipment, shelving and advertising upgrades.  

• Bears Coffee & Roasting Co.: $32,000: Building upgrades.   

• Butta’s Better BBQ: $42,207: Operational enhancements with equipment purchases and increase awareness with branded signage.    

• Classic Man Fine Men’s Clothing and Consignment: $98,000: Store expansion including addition of a barber shop, point of sale, and sales training.  

• Common Ground CrossFit: $36,805: Facility and equipment enhancement and staff education.  

• Ferm Fresh: $84,757: Production and distribution expansion with purchase of additional equipment. 

• Happy Tails Pet Place: $86,000: Facility improvement and new equipment.  

• Harvest Bakery: $39,800: Business expansion with new equipment and building renovations to add new products and increase efficiency. 

• Highland Property Group: $75,000: Exterior building renovations to increase amount of commercial leasing space.   

• Lucia’s Taqueria: $32,300: Food truck business enhancement by repairing and upgrading one truck and purchasing a second.  

• Myers Surgical Associates: $100,000: Expansion of services with creation of an in-office surgical procedure room.  

• Nails by Nikki: $63,027: Renovation of currently unused space to convert into 6 suites to expand location service offerings.  

• Nancy Sauer School of Theatrical Dancing: $78,698: External and internal building upgrades to increase functionality and accessibility of the studio.   

• O’Laughlin Corporation: $71,175: Building upgrades for Charlie’s restaurant including a new roof and front awning remodel.  

• On Point Pedi, LLC: $45,000: Expansion of service offerings to include mobile pedicures specializing in foot care services directly to diabetic and senior clients in their home or living facility. 

• Pure Entertainment Mobile DJ Company: $39,100: Expansion of business with additional equipment and a new photobooth offering.  

• Sammie’s Sunshine Academy LLC: $78,000: Building renovations to allow for expansion of childcare facility.    

• Studio C Ink: $80,643: Building renovations to allow for expansion.  

• Tender Moments Play and Preschool: $51,871: Building renovations to allow for expansion of childcare facility. 

• Terre Haute Music School: $41,740: Office equipment, instruments, and seating upgrades.  

• The Ohio Building: $100,000: Building upgrades for business expansion. 

• Twentyeight Eight LLC: $19,000: New in-car simulator to provide expanded services. 

• Wabash Valley Fabrics: $16,300: New point of sale software and building security and camera system.  

• Wabash Valley Lock & Key: $24,477: Expanded service offerings with new equipment purchases and new signage.   

• Wes Enterprises: $59,229: Building improvements and equipment upgrades. 

 

Abby Desboro, Executive Director of the United Way of the Wabash Valley, explained “This has been an amazing opportunity to work with the City of Terre Haute to offer these small businesses ways to invest in themselves.  As the United Way we see small businesses as the life of our town.  They provide our community with jobs and drive our local economy.  These awards are a testament to the resilience and vision of small businesses. We are proud to support the small businesses of our community and can’t wait to see what amazing things these grants will create.”