Local CRA awards businesses with grant funding

Local entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas to a panel of experts at the Fort Lauderdale Village District START Weekend. The top three winners beamed as they were awarded thousands of dollars in grant funding to develop their ventures.

The city of Fort Lauderdale Northwest-Progresso-Flagler Community Redevelopment Agency put on the recent two-day competition. Its goal is to attract new food, art and retail industries to the area which refers to Historic Sistrunk, Progresso Village and Flagler Village neighborhoods.

Winners are privy to professional services that include mentorship, marketing, signage or three months’ rent for a property located within the CRA boundaries.

Pamela Mair of Boca Raton took the first place spot for Rxestoratives Hair and Skin Wellness. The $5,000 purse will help the cosmetologist expand her natural products line. That dream could include opening a storefront in the Village District.

“[Winning] has inspired me to actually start considering a brick and mortar,” Mair said. She envisions a small manufacturing and sales outlet. Other funds will buy raw materials and packaging upgrades.

Mair entered the competition at the last minute, but her quick thinking and business acumen won over the judges – and they “loved” her heartfelt story, she said.

As a youngster, a do-it-yourself bleaching treatment went horribly wrong, destroying her hair.

“My hair fell out. It started my journey pursuing natural hair care products,” Mair said. She wrote a book “Having Healthy Hair At Home: A Holistic Approach to Hair” and focuses on consumer education.

“People in this area would benefit from knowing how to take care of their hair at home. Who has money to go to a salon every week or two?” Mair said.

In second and third places, the CRA awarded $2,500 each for Easy Peasie Veggie, a custom blend of all-natural vegetable powders in second place, followed by management company PSTJ Construction in third place.

The next step for the entrepreneurs is a six-week course in the Fort Lauderdale Village District START Training Institute facilitated by the Urban League of Broward County.

“The Fort Lauderdale Village START Weekend is an important step in identifying, encouraging and equipping individuals with the drive, ideas and skills sets to develop sustainable businesses within the CRA,” said D’Wayne Spence, manager for the CRA.