Fifty-nine Colorado Springs businesses are celebrating their completion of the Survive and Thrive: Propel COS program.
A partnership between Exponential Impact and the City of Colorado Springs, the Survive and Thrive: Propel COS program paired mentorship and educational elements with financial support to help businesses struggling from the lingering negative effects of the pandemic.
The businesses completed the eight-week long program that included weekly sessions led by industry experts, mentorship from community leaders and curated curriculum.
“The team at Exponential Impact was grateful to collaborate with an impactful group of business leaders over the past two months,” said Exponential Impact’s Executive Director, Vance Brown. “Each business owner had access to a robust curriculum and they worked closely with a mentor that matched their industry or business needs. A highlight of the program was the weekly in-person and virtual sessions, where business owners connected with each other and developed relationships that will last beyond the conclusion of this Survive and Thrive program.”
Awarded businesses received a grant up to $50,000, with the average grant size of $22,650. The City financially supported this endeavor through its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation. $1.2 million in grant funding was distributed to the businesses to address the lingering negative effects of the pandemic.
“The City is gratified by the fact that 59 dynamic and resilient local businesses are utilizing these funds to ‘Propel’ themselves beyond the pandemic and into 2023,” said Bob Cope, Colorado Springs’ economic development officer. “We are proud to have partnered with Exponential Impact on the Survive and Thrive: Propel COS initiative. Small businesses are essential to Colorado Springs and the Survive and Thrive program is a great example of how resilient and resourceful our small businesses can be.”
For more information on the grant program and to see a full list of recipients visit Exponentialimpact.com/SurviveAndThrive.
Final Program Session Information (Press invite only, not a public event)
What: Graduation and final session of Survive & Thrive: Propel COS Grant program
Who: Vance Brown, Executive Director Exponential Impact
Survive and Thrive Business Owners
When: 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Where: Exponential Impact, 3650 N Nevada Ave