Grants help 17 minority, women and veteran-owned NKY businesses

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Duke Energy provided more than $70,000 to 17 local businesses.

All of them either minority, women or veteran owned.

"..people are paying attentionto us.

Giving us a chance toalsosucceed.".."OFFERING A HELPINGHAND.THE NORTHERN KENTUCKYCHAMBER OF COMMERCE..

AND DUKEENERGY PROVIDED MORE THAN 70-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO 17BUSINESSES..ALL OF THEM..EITHER MINORITY..WOMEN ORVETERAN OWNED.IT ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF HOWBUSINESSES ARE TRYING TOREBOUND FROM THE PANDEMIC.WCPO 9 NEWS REPORTER JAKE RYLESPOKE WITH TWO BUSINESSOWNERS..

ABOUT HOW THE GRANTWILL BE USED..

TO HELP THEMGROW."The word of the day isempowered.

After severalminority, women, and veteranbusiness owners had theopportunity to accept a smallbusiness grant during thepandemic."(NATPIANO)"We believe through music, wecan give our students a voice."HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE..(NATPIANO)CAILEEN TALLANT OWNSTALLANT MUSIC STUDIO IN FORTTHOMAS.HER GOAL - TO GIVEDOZENS OF STUDENTS A VOICE.." It doesn't matter where youcome from, what you look like.If you're passionate about it,you can make it happen."THESTUDIO OPENED JULY FIRST..SHETICKLES THE IVORIES..

ON APIANO..

THEY RECENTLYBOUGHT.I felt wow.

What we're doingmatters.

PAID FOR..

WITH AGRANT FROM THE NORTHERNKENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCEAND DUKE ENERGYFOUNDATION."And a lot of times it canfeel easy that as a woman myvoice isn't as heard asothers.

This has definitelyproved that wrong."(NAT POPBLOW DRYER)AT SUSAN'S SALONAND SPA..

INALEXANDRIA..The most complicated thingfrom an owners standpoint isthat you don't have anyanswers."THE BUSINESS WAS SHUTDOWN FOR 10 AND A HALF WEEKS.."That 10.5 weeks is 25% ofour budget for the year.

Wedefinitely felt it surely."MORGAN FELDMAN SAYS THATFEELING CHANGED TOEXCITEMENT..

WHEN HER BUSINESSWAS SELECTED TO RECEIVE AGRANT." I got to point what I'd beusing that money for.

Thatshows what's important to usas an organization.

I'm luckyto be able to do that."WHATWAS IMPORTANT TO HER..

ANDTHEIR 14 EMPLOYEES..CONTINUING A RETIREMENT PLANMATCH PROGRAM.."Of course, if budgets gosouth, things happen.

We getclosed down again.

Whatever.The first thing that gets cutis any added benefit program.I wanted to make sure fortheir futures that it'ssomething that I can match,and continue to do for themthis year."EMPOWERMENT.(NATPIANO)A SWEET TUNE..

TOHELPING SO MANY..IN FORTTHOMAS..

JAKE RYLE, WCPO 9NEWS.