Deadline approaches for small business grants

A Comcast grant program that helps minority- and women-owned businesses with tech and creative costs is accepting applications from New Mexico businesses until Friday, according to a news release.

Comcast RISE helps grant awardees pay for technology upgrades, and with media, consulting and creative production services.

Carmen Prince-Morris, co-owner of the 50/50 Coffee House & Pub in Albuquerque, received a RISE grant last year to pay for two computers, two iPads, and a year’s worth of business internet and phone bills. PrinceMorris, who owns the business with her husband Chad Morris and one other partner, said she didn’t think initially she would need the grant.

But then, Prince-Morris’ work computer broke and a nearby business owner also had a computer on its last legs — prompting Prince-Morris to give that person one of the Comcast machines she’d received.

She also said that 50/50 Coffee House & Pub switched to a pointof-sale system that required iPads. And the cost savings on her business internet and phone usage helped, too.

“(It) was super helpful because we didn’t have the income coming in to even support that,” Prince-Morris told the Journal.

The coffee shop expanded into a brick-and-mortar Downtown location earlier this year, with a food truck that also operates in areas throughout the city.

Comcast RISE has granted funds to nearly 8,000 businesses in 34 states, according to the company’s website. Businesses interested in signing up can find more information at comcastrise.com.