BUSINESS

Comcast offers resource program to help women-owned small businesses in Panama City area

The News Herald/USA TODAY NETWORK
The News Herald

PANAMA CITY — Comcast has announced small businesses owned by women in Panama City and surrounding areas will now be eligible to apply for the Comcast Rise program.

The program offers marketing and technology resources for small businesses. Previously, eligibility for the program was only open to small businesses owned by people of color. 

Comcast invites Florida Panhandle Women-Owned small businesses to apply for Comcast RISE Resources Program

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According to a news release from Comcast, the Comcast RISE program, which celebrated its first anniversary last November, is a part of Comcast’s efforts to advance digital equity and provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive.

Small businesses owned by people of color, which includes Asian, Black and Hispanic-owned businesses, among others will remain eligible for the program, the release states. 

Once a small business is selected, the applicant will receive one of the following:

  • Local broadcast advertisements over a 90-day period in partnership with EffecTV, Comcast’s advertising sales division
  • Production of a 30-second television commercial, also from EffecTV, that will be run on local broadcast stations over a 90-day period
  • A technology makeover from Comcast Business

Anyone interested in complete program information or to access the online application can visit comcastrise.com.

A program to help strengthen thousands of small and diverse businesses hard hit by COVID-19, Comcast RISE provides access to resources such as grants, computers, internet access, commercial production, media campaigns, website upgrades, marketing advice and more.

Comcast RISE has provided more than $60 million in grants, marketing and technology services to more than 6,700 small businesses owned by people of color in the first year alone. Of the 6,700 Comcast RISE recipients to date, nearly 70% have been businesses owned by women of color, spurring Comcast to take a deeper look into the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, the release states.

According to a study by the National Association of Women Business Owners, 42% of businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, with more than 1,800 new businesses being started every day. However, women-owned businesses are growing at only half the rate of those run by men, namely because women struggle to access capital and other resources to help them succeed, the release states.