Tempe, AZ - Mayor Corey Woods announced the 27 recipients of Tempe's BIPOC Micro-manufacturing Grants during the MLK Diversity Awards Breakfast on Monday.

Only 11% of our country’s businesses are owned by People of Color. Entrepreneurship is one way that people can create financial prosperity for themselves and their families. Recognizing that gap, the City of Tempe set aside $300,000 and partnered with Rep. Greg Stanton to secure $500,000 in federal funding. This $800,000 fund is providing up to $25,000 stipends to BIPOC-owned businesses that they can use for rent, supplies, tools, anything they need to succeed. They also receive a Tempe Chamber of Commerce membership.

"Helping people prosper is only one benefit of this program. Investing in Tempe’s entrepreneurs is a way of investing in our city’s future economic growth. We all benefit from new products and services, new ideas and possibly even new jobs," said Mayor Corey Woods. "I look forward to visiting with the entrepreneurs that earned our manufacturing grants."

“I’m proud that, in partnership with Mayor Woods and the City of Tempe, we brought back half a million dollars in federal funding to help the next generation of micro-manufacturers realize their potential and build great products” Rep. Stanton said.

Tempe BIPOC Micro-Manufacturing grant recipients were recognized at the annual MLK Diversity Awards on Jan. 9.

Grant recipients include:
The Molecules Company
Big Red Hot Sauce
White Hawk Industries
Simply Wick
Alpha Manufacturing Solutions
Black Russian Label
Pastiche La Femme
RecoFit
LaMark Cole, LLC
Heights Apparel
Technoir Candy
We Kingz Bro Apparel
Ms. Martha’s Caribbean Kitchen

Yhorlife
Conscious Gear
Pure Juice N'Joy Smoothie & Juice 
Skate Forty8
OXDX
Midge Chocolate
Goldstar Shea Butter
Sassy Cones
RPH Beauty
Fresh Peak
Salad Sistah
* R Spa and Wellness Center
* Sugar Puffs
* Satiete
* No website at this time

Companies were selected by representatives of Tempe Economic Development Department, FABRIC Tempe, Tempe Chamber of Commerce, State of Black Arizona, Hustle PHX, Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council and  RAIL CDC.

"Organizations like State of Black Arizona, Hustle PHX and Rail CDC - and our other partners - are vital to helping entrepreneurs get the training and mentorship they need to really thrive. We appreciate the time they took to find the companies that could most benefit from these grant awards," said Maria Laughner, Tempe Economic Development Deputy Director.

"Business incubators, mentoring agencies and grants like this are transformative for businesses," said Dr. Velicia Humes, Chief Diversity Officer. "They give these businesses a boost and also stay with them to ensure long-term success."