Grant Awards - Fall 2008 Cycle

The Merchants Fund opened offices in the summer of 2007 in downtown Philadelphia after a twenty-five year hiatus outside the City. The board has outlined an ambitious grant-making program to support small businesses in Philadelphia.

ACH Enterprises, Inc. ($1,700)
http://www.keepsakecarpets.com/contact.aspx
ACH installs, cleans, and over dyes stained carpeting primarily in commercial settings.   Over dying allows for reclaiming rather than replacing carpet that has been stained or sun damaged. Capital expenditures for equipment for finishing and installation support will generate more jobs and revenue. The owner is committed to hiring post incarceration employees and takes advantage of the available wage tax breaks.  The warehouse is located in the American Street Empowerment Zone which also generates tax credits. 

Armed & Dangerous ($8,000)
This mature business (almost 20 year) sells romantic Goth jewelry, clothing and gifts.  South Street is the center of the Goth scene and this business is well-located. There is a loyal customer base which could be grown with the addition of an e-commerce presence.  South Street has been torn up with streetscape improvements rendering it difficult to navigate (summer 2008). A much needed repair the roof, a web site, and computer will stabilize this business.

Bambi Project (Consignment Gallery) ($1,600)
http://www.bambiproject.com/
TMF provided seed money to explore an e-commerce strategy with technical support from The Enterprise Center.  Bambi is an active participant in the arts avenue project of New Kensington CDC (also the landlord) on Frankford Avenue. 

Beehive Hair Salon ($5,000)
http://www.beehivehairsalon.com/
The owners took advantage of the unexpected opportunity to move a few doors away and triple the size of their salon on Fairmount Avenue.  They also added nail, massage and skincare services.   Some of the new spaces are not complete and an infusion of capital to purchase equipment will continue the growth trajectory of this dynamic business.  

Big Daddy's BBQ ($5,000)
This is the second location for this successful family owned restaurant.  The original restaurant opened on Haverford Avenue in 2002.  It was a huge success leading to the opening of the Wadsworth Avenue location.   The owners are committed to employing post incarceration kitchen workers as part of their work force.  The hours are concentrated on peak demand at the end of the week and weekends.  Foot traffic on weekdays is very light on Wadsworth Avenue but this a car corridor to the adjacent northern suburbs.  Additional kitchen equipment purchases should increase production capacity and holding capability.
 
Caliente Mexican Cosmic Catering ($10,000)
http://www.cosmicfoods.com/
Cosmic Catering has developed a comprehensive plan to upgrade and grow this sustainable catering and food company located at the Chestnut Hill Famers Market. Over the next year and a half the husband and wife owners are undertaking a marketing campaign to promote prepared foods, to brand and promote their green operations, to move to computer-based ordering and bookkeeping and to expand the catering component of the business.  The Director of the Sustainable Business Network uses their catering services and enthusiastically recommends this family-run company.

Chestnut Hill Business Association ($2,000)
http://www.chestnuthillpa.com/
During an economic slowdown the best strategy is to spend strategically on aggressive promotions. The winter lighting campaign is a cornerstone for generating foot traffic in this vital neighborhood.  Individual businesses "adopted a tree" adjacent to their property and several fund raisers were held through the fall to help defray the costs of this major retail promotion.  Based on the Buy Local concept CHBA wants to make the Hill sparkle from December to March. PECO is providing the power. 

CSP Reprographic ($10,000)
http://www.cspreprographics.com/ 
CSP Reprographics is committed to a green business model. The owners are purchasing a new green, four-color offset printing system.  All the colors are annealed to a single recyclable metal plate.  Offset is the most cost effective way to do volume printing. The company is expanding rapidly and the owners are searching for new space in the area.  The business is located in the targeted area of redevelopment of the PECCDC where TMF has made grants in the past.

Denise's Delicacies, Inc. ($7,000)
http://www.cakesbydenises.com/
This mature business is undertaking several projects to upgrade computers, ordering systems, phones, security, replace the walk-in, etc.  Good storage is key to storing cooking supplies and keeping product fresh so this is a priority from the list of projects. Since so many businesses are closing a like new walk-in should be a bargain. The store front is a modest portal on North 22nd Street but there is always a line to the door.  The Allegheny West CDC was very supportive of the application because this successful business creates foot traffic for the entire corridor and employs people from the neighborhood.  The owner started the business 16 years ago in her kitchen. 
 
East Falls Fitness ($4,000)
http://www.eastfallsfitness.com/
Co-owned by two experienced professionals, the gym is located at the top of Ridge Avenue/East Falls across from Laurel Hill Cemetery. The landlord owns the farmers market next door.  The location has ample parking which is always an asset for a gym.  The slump in the housing market has affected the surrounding new and renovated real estate in the area. The owners are working aggressively to attract corporate clients from the area to set up employee wellness programs.  The TMF grant will be used to execute a direct mail campaign and advertise in the local papers.

E.G. Marshall & Assoc. $3,500
http://www.egmarshall.com/
This Victorian building housed a shoe store:  one half for men with a pass through to the other side for women.  The interior is filled with carved casework which has been cleaned and restored.   On one side the owner runs an antique store selling an eclectic selection of mid-price goods (Perpetua).  On the other side he runs an internet company (E.G.Marshall) selling books, documents, historic objects, coins, ephemera and Americana.  Once a month he turns his display windows over to local artists for First Friday.  He has also cleaned up the exterior of his building revealing beautiful showcase windows but more is needed. He will install awnings which will also act as signage. He has been on Frankford Avenue for over 20 years

Genesis Optical ($7,200)
The owner will motorize security grates and repair a roof leak to improve the appearance of her shop.  The Ogontz Avenue Redevelopment Corp supported the application. Independently owned optician struggle to compete against mall chain shops but the owner is known as the best at customer service.

Gibson Music & Arts ($5,000)
http://www.gibsonschoolofmusicandarts.net/
This thriving music school is located on North 5th Street and creates a heavy flow of foot traffic for co-located businesses. The availability of reasonably priced music classes in the community is a real plus for the neighborhood.  The display windows are obscured by the old style security grates making the merchandise in the retail store hard to see. The overall appearance of the façade will be drastically improved with new grates. The Korean Community Development CDC manager recommended the applicant.

Ground Zero ($5,000)
http://www.groundzerochestnuthill.com/
This dynamic business is located in the shopping area at the intersection of Cresheim and Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill which was blocked by road construction for months. This usually busy intersection fosters a healthy traffic flow for businesses located there. Ground Zero-Chestnut Hill is a part of a small local franchise with half a dozen shops across the city.  In 2006- 2007 30% of the client base was from walk-ins compared to 5% in 2008.

J. Davis Printing  ($10,000)
http://www.jdavisprinting.com/
This family-owned full service printing company on Ridge Avenue in Roxborough will purchase a green technology direct to plate system to increase capacity. The father has a long resume in the printing business and set up this shop 10 years ago.  He is training his son to continue in the business.  They recently purchased a new press and folding machine from a bankrupt company to increase capacity.  The Roxborough CDC actively supported the application.   

Kim's Variety ($5,000)
Located on a retail strip of Wadsworth Avenue at Cheltenham Avenue this mature business will complete the renovation of the façade of the double sided store.  The first phase accomplished with funds from TMF exceeded expectations of the owners and the Mt. Airy Revitalization Corp.  Phase two is much anticipated. 

Lil'Drummaboy Recordings ($5,000)
http://www.lildrummaboy.com/
This hip music production studio and studio recording school needs QuickBooks POS and register and a new computer to track sales and make sales. The school could easily double in size to 90 and it could be accommodated on site.  Most classes are taught in the evening.  Artists can rent the facility to make professional music recordings. The owner started his business by providing services to the Clef Club in return for space until he was able to move out on his own.

Mayfair Business Association ($2,000)
The Merchants Association on Frankford Avenue in Mayfair will publish brochure to promote local business.  It will be distributed throughout the area and in area stores.  Members are expected to contribute toward the expense through the annual dues collection.  The Mayfair CDC is contributing to this effort as well.

Noise Pollution Records ($7,000)
The recent economic downturn because of street construction on South Street has negatively impacted sales.  New stock purchases of used CDs and records and a selective ad campaign should yield immediate revenue for this experienced and knowledgeable owner.  This one man shop off South Street has been around for 17 years is well-located in a youth saturated market.

Ott's Tae Kwon Do ($4,600)
http://www.ottstkd.com/index.php?pageID=home
This Mayfair company is on a busy commercial strip of upper Frankford Avenue and runs a full schedule of Tae Kwon Do classes predominantly for children at reasonable rates.  A family-friendly school is an asset for a major corridor.  He will upgrade and replace a variety of training and sparring equipment, mats, etc.

Palmer Estate Liquidators ($5,000)
http://palmerestateliquidators.com/index2.ivnu  
The husband and wife owners have a clear strategy for segmenting goods derived from cleaning out homes and apartments for estates and senior citizens downsizing.  EBay provides a stable sales platform for collectables, high end furniture is allocated to a cooperative consignment space and ordinary household goods go to auction.  Identifying new supply- side clients for the business will be the target of an upgraded web site, advertising and marketing campaign. The client contact and hands on way care of families and clients sets them apart from their competitors. 

La Pearl Beauty Salon ($7,500)
http://www.lapearlbeauty.com/
The Owner of LaPearl Beauty Salon has undertaken a comprehensive plan to renew this important business on Lancaster Avenue.  The Victorian façade has recently been upgraded with a City façade grant and it is visually quite striking. The interior is being given the same loving attention with new floors, lighting and paint. The business is located in the targeted redevelopment area of the PECCDC where TMF has made several grants. 

Richardson Group Senior Citizens Living Quarters ($4,600)
http://www.richardsongroupsclq.com/
Located in Frankford a few blocks from the Frankford transportation center this family-owned long term care facility is set to triple in size with the opening of a new building next door doubling the size of the facility and creating new jobs.  An exhaust hood for the kitchen will bring the kitchen into compliance with the health code.   The operator is an active member of the Frankford Business Association which was supportive of the application.

Roxborough CDC ($2,500)
http://www.roxborough.us/
TMF made a modest contribution toward an updated merchant’s directory and brochure. This BID/CDC has undertaken extensive planning, retail development and real estate development.  Although there are 200 businesses on Ridge Avenue, the strip malls and suburban shopping malls draw customers away from local shopping.  The business directory is part of an overall strategy to rebuild, attract new retail and strengthen the retail core.

Slices Pizza ($8,500)
http://www.yourhometownpages.com/contact.asp.asp  enter code 0143
Located on Ridge Avenue at Midvale in East Falls this four year old business does a brisk trade. Several businesses on this row of store fronts did not successfully weather the storm of the construction project earlier in 2008.  The co-owner’s worked together in the food service industry before starting out on their own.   Rising energy costs have cut into profitability so a high-efficiency oven is key to regaining lost ground and growing capacity for bigger catering orders for local schools and universities. 

Tymbal Art Company ($10,000)
http://www.tymbalart.com/index.html
The husband and wife owners make fine art clothing as well as custom order screen printing. The company started in the back room of a grocery store in South Philadelphia and it is time to expand.  The new facility fits into the New Kensington CDC arts avenue plan.  The owners will live above the shop. The first floor will have a retail shop and a professional print shop for production and classes.  The purchase of a new manual silkscreen printer, screen exposer and an infrared dryer will jump start this new location.

Windle Mechanical Solutions ($6,500)
 http://www.mfgquote.com/profiles/WindleMechanicalSolutionsInc-141894.html
The owner has been outsourcing quality assurance of the precision parts which he manufactures.  An optical scanner will allow this process to be brought in-house to cut costs, increase profitability and streamline production time. His application was supported by the Urban Industry Initiative of the Commerce Department which helped him purchase his business.