Comcast is more than just a cable and internet provider; they’re doing their best to support small businesses as well. Comcast RISE is a program committed to supporting the growth of all small businesses while also helping the communities they’re in thrive with a focus on economic growth.
On April 15, Mike McArdle, Comcast’s big south region senior vice president for Comcast, announced at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs that Comcast RISE will be awarding small businesses in Atlanta with a chance to help them with business consultation services, education resources, monetary grants, and creative production, media and technology makeovers.
McArdle also granted CEO Jay Bailey a $1 million donation to RICE to help build their digital tools and support small businesses around the city.
“Any entrepreneur, applying at www.comcastrise.com. can get … the tools, resources and capital they need to actually bridge that gap,” Bailey said. “It means everything for them to come to our community to announce it, but to specifically focus on our community to distribute it.”
Pinky Cole, CEO of Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan, was also present at the event and shared her story with the audience on how a program like Comcast RISE can help small businesses achieve their goals.
“Entrepreneurs are the core of our existence in the city of Atlanta. They provide opportunity; they make sure the word in Atlanta goes around,” Cole said. “People used to go to L.A. to find their dreams; now, they come to Atlanta. So when we think about the Comcast RISE program, this is what I mean when I say community. Providing resources, providing information, especially when we talk about technology.”
The application to apply for Comcast RISE will be open from May 1 to May 31, and grants will be awarded in August 2024. Applications will be available online at www.comcastrise.com.
