Fifth round of SPEDA mini-grants leans into entrepreneurship | News

The Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) returned another $10,000 in savings realized by sound financial management into the local economy today with its fifth round of mini-grants, helping four entrepreneurs continue to make their small-business dreams a reality.

This year’s recipients are all providing services they feel are important to the people and quality of life of Somerset-Pulaski County. They include Method: A Sweat Studio, Drive 365, Pig’s Entertainment LLC, and Wise Ass Farms.

SPEDA’s mini-grant program awards $2,500 to four local businesses with plans to innovate and expand their operations. Launched in 2020, the mini-grant program provides strategic investments to businesses currently operating or in the start-up phase in Somerset-Pulaski County. It is an initiative made possible through good management and proper financial oversight at SPEDA that has helped the organization save thousands annually since its inception.

SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said this round of winners is unique in the variety of services they provide, and how those services influence the local economy.

“Our mini-grant program is not economic development in the traditional sense,” Girdler said. “In fact, very little SPEDA does can be considered traditional economic development. Our job is to innovate and help the community grow holistically, promoting anything that can improve the lives of our people. That happens in many different ways for people of all walks of life. I am proud of how diverse the businesses are that applied this year, which made it incredibly difficult for our committee to choose four ultimate winners. And I’m proud of the projects we’ve chosen to support.”

Local businesses are invited to apply for several projects, including but not limited to strategic planning and management; purchase or physical improvements to facilities or equipment; training; or leadership, planning and management capacity initiatives.

Applicants must demonstrate their benefit to the community — presenting an overall plan, specific need for investment and ways in which funds will be utilized.

Method: A Sweat Studio

Michelle Gambill and Sarah Leigh, co-owners of Method: A Sweat Studio, want to expose as many community members as possible to the benefits of healthy habits and exercise. Their downtown Somerset studio — inside what was once the local YMCA — offers Pilates reformer, Barre, and a variety of group cardio and strength classes to more than 700 clients.

But Gambill and Leigh want that number to keep growing. Because Pilates reformer often requires one-on-one training for those who have never tried the exercise before or need personalized attention due to injury or physical limitation, the studio is limited in offering private and group sessions simultaneously because there is only one room dedicated to reformer classes. Method will use its mini-grant to purchase an additional Pilates reformer, placing it in a repurposed room for private lessons. This ensures that group classes can resume in the original space and that Method can help more clients improve their physical, emotional and spiritual wellness.

“As a small, women-owned business that has experienced tremendous support and growth since opening in July of 2021 we are honored to receive this mini-grant to continue growing our business,” Leigh said. “The support we have received from the community has been unmatched. This opportunity will allow us to continue offering innovative classes and a supportive healthy environment for our clients.”

Pig’s Entertainment LLC

While Method hopes to improve the quality of life of Pulaski Countians through wellness, Pig’s Entertainment wants to enhance it through entertainment and social opportunity. This entrepreneurial business helps introduce new, engaging forms of entertainment within existing local businesses, helping those businesses increase foot traffic and alternative sources of revenue while creating vibrant and entertaining social spaces within the community.

Pig’s Entertainment will use its mini-grant to purchase a claw machine to be installed at Eubank Pizza Somerset, the sixth such machine it has installed in businesses across Pulaski County.

“I cannot express how thankful I am that Pig’s Entertainment was selected for this grant,” Owner Travis Hood said. “This will help us grow by a whole location. In the personal vending business, this is a huge deal. So thank you to SPEDA for selecting Pig’s Entertainment as one of the winners. It’s a true honor and it means so much.”

Drive 365 Rent-A-Car

Drive 365 Rent-A-Car is a locally owned and operated car rental company that wants to meet clients where they are. The purchase of three iPads with a SPEDA mini-grant will do just that.

“At present, our services are only available in-office, limiting the assistance we’re able to provide,” co-owner Jamie Woodall said. “By employing the use of tablets, our staff will be able to meet customers at their home, office, or dealership service department. Our goal is to get those who need them into rental vehicles quickly and with as little hassle as possible.”

Co-owner Bruce Ping said this project’s impact on the community cannot be overstated.

“Any thriving business, especially a small, locally owned and operated one, is beneficial to the local economy,” Ping said. “However, with a business such as this, economic growth and stimulation go hand-in-hand … By providing transportation to those who are, for whatever reason, left without, our business is providing citizens with the means to more fully participate in our economic growth. We are grateful to SPEDA for helping us seize this opportunity to improve quality of life through the lens of transportation.”

Wise Ass Farms

A family farming operation named for the story of Balaam in the Bible, Wise Ass Farms will utilize its SPEDA mini-grant to help improve the quality of gardening and landscaping and increase the availability of homegrown, healthy foods for local residents.

Currently, owner Josh Baker rents a roll-off bin located at a nearby commercial produce facility. That facility’s waste stream is used to create a nutrient-rich compost that Wise Ass Farms hopes to make available to local individuals and businesses in the next year. SPEDA’s mini-grant will help the farm purchase a large dump trailer, increasing their workers’ ability to service disposal needs at any time and eliminating the need to rent equipment from an out-of-county provider.

Baker said this process and equipment will allow the farm to provide a source of high-quality compost for gardens and landscaping, increasing garden yields and making homegrown foods more available.

“We are so very thankful to be the recipients of the SPEDA mini-grant,” Baker said. “To select a small farm and business like ours shows where this community places its priority. We look forward to the progress this grant allows us to make and look forward to becoming a larger part of the local economy.”

Girdler, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and Pulaski County Judge-Executive Marshall Todd presented these businesses with their $2,500 mini-grant awards Thursday.