Small business owners share how City of Madison resources helped them succeed

Alders from the City of Madison Common Council and members of the City's Economic Development Committee capped off National Small Business Week on Saturday with a citywide tour of some of the many local businesses that have benefited from funding through the City's Office of Business Resources.

The day started with comments from Deputy Mayor Dr. Linda Vakunta, who welcomed the alders and other City staff while recognizing all of Madison's small business owners for what they do.

"We are very proud of the work we do to support our small businesses, as they are critical to our community," Dr. Vakunta said. "They exemplify our vision, which is a Madison that is inclusive, innovating and thriving. They create jobs for our local community, provide essential goods and services that we all need, and contribute to the overall quality of life in Madison."

The tour included six stops, highlighting the diversity of Madison's small businesses - not just in who owns them, but also in terms of size and industry.

Stop 1: Duncan's Dog Daycare

The tour started the day at Duncan's Dog Daycare on the city's east side, near East Towne Mall. Owner Samantha Fiscus has received a total of $25,000 through the City of Madison's Kiva loan match loan program, offering businesses that work with designated community partners a match loan of up to $7,500. Kiva is a crowdfunding platform that provides 0% interest loans to small business owners and startups, with borrowers able to receive loans of up to $15,000.

Fiscus also received $5,200 through a Small Business Equity and Recovery (SBER) Grant in 2021, allowing her to cover costs as she was first starting her business.

"Because I opened at the beginning of the pandemic, I was not eligible for a lot of the federal grants and loans, and so I had to rely on Kiva and the grants to get me through, because business is still struggling, I'm barely breaking even, so without those grants - I mean, that $5,200 covered my rent that month. And so not to know whether I was going to be able to stay open, it was just a huge sense of relief," Fiscus said.

Stop 2: Sasha-A Restoration

The second leg of the tour took the group to Sash-A Restoration, a woman-, minority-, veteran-owned window restoration company based on Madison's east side.

Owner Pam Barrett was able to use a Small Business Equity and Recovery Grant of $1,063 to help her pay for required health and safety equipment needed to mitigate the effects of lead paint, as well as personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as they went into people's homes.

Sasha-A Restoration opened in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic - a time when many people were looking to make home improvements.

"That was one of the things that really helped me sell (promote) my business in that I was able to say, 'Hey look, I encapsulate the area I'm working on, I've got lead-safe certification for doing this kind of work, and I've got the right equipment," Barrett said.

Stop 3: Smart Cleaning Solutions

The third stop on the tour took the group to the city's far east side, where Smart Cleaning Solutions is in the process of building a brand-new building as part of the Commercial Ownership Assistance program, which is focused on helping business owners expand their enterprises by helping them transition from renting commercial space to owning their own commercial property.

The Commercial Ownership Assistance program offers forgivable loans of $250,000 to help support existing businesses in taking that next step toward property ownership, specifically focusing resources on communities that have historically faced barriers to accessing the money needed to start or grow their businesses.

The COA program is funded by the Small Business Equity and Recovery (SBER) program in the City's operating budget, as well as Tax Increment Districts 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54. The program has an annual budget of $500,000.

Stop 4: Bombay Bazaar Market and Brothers Cafe

The fourth stop on the tour took Alders and City staff to the west side to see the improvements made to Bombay Bazaar Market made possible through the Office of Business Resources' Healthy Retail Access Program.

The program helps fund businesses that increase access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate foods. Bombay Bazaar owners Ramesh and Pema Chhabra received a little more than $98,000 from the program in 2023, allowing them to make improvements to their market's lighting, shelving, and refrigerators - allowing them to increase their inventory and offer more cold and frozen food items from across southeast Asia.

Before the improvements, the store's coolers and freezers were more than 20 years old and needed constant maintenance, affecting the business's ability to keep many cold or frozen items in stock. With the new coolers and freezers, Bombay Bazaar has been able to confidently keep more food options on display, expanding food options for the community members who shop there.

After visiting Bombay Bazaar, the group had lunch at Brothers Cafe, located in the same plaza. Brothers Cafe is the first Somali restaurant in Madison, offering a diverse menu with a variety of traditional Somali dishes.

Stop 5: Earthly Temptations

After lunch, alders and City staff traveled to Madison's south side to visit Earthly Temptations on South Park Street. Owner Sarah Branch began making natural products to fulfill the needs of her family and friends in 2020 during the pandemic and ultimately opened her retail store in 2022.

"As I started crafting products, as I started meditating and using crystals and such, I noticed that my mood has dramatically increased and I love life. So as I began to heal, I knew I had to offer it back on to the community, so I wanted everybody to participate in self-care," Branch told the group.

Branch was able to receive a Kiva loan to help cover the costs of continuing her education and gaining certifications that allowed her to grow her business by offering different classes and healing sessions. She was also able to use the Kiva funds to expand inventory in her retail store and hire someone to help her develop a website.

"Now all of my shelves are completely filled, and I'm really excited about that," Branch said.

Stop 6: JustVeggiez

The final stop on the tour took the group to JustVeggiez, which was originally launched as a vegan takeout, vending and catering business before moving into its new storefront on the 500 block of State Street in the last year.

Owner James Bloodsaw, Jr. says the inspiration for the business came from a conversation with his father in 2011, who urged James to make lifestyle changes as his father experienced health issues.

"He was on his dying bed and told me don't end up like him, so I changed my lifestyle, and I'm on my way to changing the community," Bloodsaw, Jr. told the group.

A mural of his father is now prominently displayed inside the restaurant as a reminder of that inspiration.

JustVeggiez is another business that has been able to receive funding through the Small Business Equity and Recovery Program and Kiva loans but was also able to benefit from the City's Building Improvement Grant program, receiving $50,000 in 2022.

Learn more about resources for local businesses

The City of Madison's Economic Development Division and the Office of Business Resources offer a large variety of loans and grants to help business owners get started or expand. You can learn more about who qualifies for business assistance and how to apply on the Office of Business Resources' webpage.

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