ATLANTA — Starting June 1, Atlanta small business owners can apply to receive a $10,000 grant for their company.

The Comcast RISE Investment Fund will be giving these funds away to 100 businesses as a way to help small businesses, owned by women or people of color, thrive and relieve some of the stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2020, Comcast RISE and The Investment Fund were founded as a way for the company to promote digital equity, according to a statement from the company. They took RISE — Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment — and dedicated their resources to helping underrepresented communities succeed in business. 

“While we know that no single organization can solve historic and systemic inequities overnight, we are committed to taking tangible actions that can drive long-term impact and change,” Teresa Ward-Maupin, Senior Vice President of Digital and Customer Experience at Comcast Business, said in a press release. 

Applications for the Investment Fund open on June 1 and will stay open until June 14. 

“Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund offer the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women to help grow their businesses, create jobs, and play a vital role in supporting our communities,” she added.

To qualify for the grant, businesses must have a minimum of 51% ownership by a woman or person of color and have been in business for at least three years. 

The business must also have 25 or fewer full-time or part-time employees and reside in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton or Gwinnett counties.

Outside of Atlanta, the Investment Fund will also accept applications from businesses in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. 

At the end of July, 100 grants per city will be announced ⁠— a grand total of 500 grants ⁠— and in August, they will be awarded to the recipients. 

In addition to the investment fund, organizers with the free-standing Comcast RISE program said they are giving away marketing and technology awards to support these small businesses and provide the resources and tools they may need.

The program already announced its most recent recipients, but there is still time to apply for the next round.

A press release from the company indicates grants will come in the form of a TV campaign, TV commercial or consulting services from the media company Effectv. 

They could also come in the form of computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business, as well as access to Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs with a specialized online networking community.

Business owners can apply to one or more of the following areas of support:

• Marketing Services Grant: 
  • Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period.
  • Creative Production: 30 second TV commercial production plus a media strategy consultation, and 90-day media placement schedule.
  • Consult: Digital audits by Ureeka in the form of Website Repair Reports and SEO Keyword reports to target website mechanics and effective organic marketing.
• Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as Internet, Voice, and Cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period.

RISE grant applications are currently open and close on June 17. 

To date, more than 8,000 businesses have received this award and Comcast says it is looking to support at least 13,000 businesses by the end of 2022.

To see all of the qualifications for the RISE grant, visit the Comcast RISE website.