Blue North received a $30,000 grant to support the NKY Entrepreneur Fund.
The grant from Truist Foundation will help NKY Fund expand its partnership with Main Street Ventures to increase the number of Northern Kentucky-based startups and small businesses that receive grant funding to start and expand their companies.
The NKY Entrepreneurs Fund is focused on supporting entrepreneurs and organizations based in Northern Kentucky, including startups, support organizations, educational institutions and accelerators. Launched in 2023, the fund’s first initiative was a partnership with Cincinnati-based Main Street Ventures.
In the first year of the partnership, Main Street Ventures’ financial support to Northern Kentucky entrepreneurs increased from 8% of funding the previous year to 34% of funding in 2023. In total, 23 companies received grants totaling approximately $366,000, half of which were supported by the NKY Entrepreneurs Fund.
The companies supported in 2023 are:
- Golden Gelato (Covington) received a grant to purchase a new authentic Italian gelato cart for events and catering.
- 4 Mile Wine (Camp Spring) used the grant money to make capital investments in inventory and storefront materials.
- Bodie Bakery (Newport) used the grant to purchase equipment that will increase the speed and capacity of production.
- Bailout Systems (Covington) used grant funding to cover materials and fabrication costs for the prototype.
Main Street Ventures recently announced its first recipients of 2024 grants, including three companies supported by the NKY Entrepreneurs Fund.
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