Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance program awards $5,000 grants to start-up businesses 

(Flint, Mich. Feb. 19, 2025) – Yesterday, 20 small businesses in Genesee County were awarded grant funding thanks to the Flint & Genesee Small Business Hub Grant Program at the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group. The grant program is designed to support businesses at all stages of growth and empower them to thrive. 

“Financial barriers often keep businesses from achieving the growth they need to be successful,” says Karena Hamlet, director of Business Services at the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance. “With direct support, these businesses will be able to reach the next step – which is huge, especially for our startups.” 

With the grant, startup businesses were eligible to receive $5,000 in funding, which is more than what is typical for grant programs working with businesses that have been operating for less than a year. Toi Edwards, owner of Yoga with Toi LaNique, shares how impactful this funding will be for her business’s long-term growth.  

“This grant is going to give me all the resources that I need that I couldn’t get through other methods,” says Edwards. “The amount won’t just help me do one or two classes. It will help support my business’ future.” 

Edwards plans to use the grant dollars to purchase software and equipment to provide virtual prenatal yoga classes to local moms at no cost.  

“Moms want to be able to do prenatal yoga in a safe space, and oftentimes that place is home,” says Edwards. “With the grant, I will be able to reach more people in the community because there is money for marketing and to access equipment.”  

Grants were awarded in three categories. Grantees include: 

• Start-up ($5,000 – in business for less than a year): 

• • Lauren Jones – Elevated Solez 

• • Bryce Keels – Bilingual Buddies 

• • Chynel Williams-Bergeron – BILY LLC 

• • Dustin Ondovcsik – Federal Facility Solutions, LLC 

• • Adrienna Earnest – Luxe Layers Cakery LLC 

• • Toi Edwards – Yoga with Toi LaNique 

• Micro ($10,000 – in business for more than a year, with fewer than 10 full-time employees): 

• • Stephanie Fenner – Fenner’s Floral and Design Co 

• • Luther Brown – John L Financial Services 

• • Craig Kelley – Prestige Promotions, LLC 

• • Kara Dahlberg – 81Ohm Massage & Co. 

• • Milton Straham – Lil Milton & Company 

• • Kurt Neiswender – Urban Colab Architecture, L.3.C. 

• • La’Asia Johnson – Elle Jae Essentials 

• • Taylor McClain – TC McClain Enterprises 

• • Jonathan Blanchard – STEMLETICS LLC 

• • Melanie Smith – Helping Hands Computer Support, LLC 

• • Jessica Allen – KĀLON Apothecary 

• Small ($15,000 – in business for more than a year, with 10 or more full-time employees): 

• • Jerome Adams – Adams Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, LLC 

• • Lisa Blondell – Blondie’s Food & Spirits 

• • Jody Blackburn – The Furlough Dog Daycare and Pet Resort, LLC 

This grant program builds upon the work of the Flint & Genesee Small Business Support Hub, which was one of 27 established earlier this year through the state’s Small Business Support Hub program. The hub – which is also supported by partners Doxa Development, Metro Community Development, and the Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC) – takes a holistic, customized approach for each client. This includes providing data-informed business counseling, experienced capital access coaching, personalized personal finance mentorship, and connections to resources to grow a business. 

Both the Flint & Genesee Small Business Support Hub and its grant program are supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury and administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. 

To learn more about the Flint & Genesee Small Business Support Hub, visit DevelopFlintandGenesee.org/Small-Business-Hub.