COLORADO SPRINGS — Since the end of March, Survive and Thrive has worked to support, restore, and provide a way forward for 132 small businesses and non-profits across our area.
The program is attached to Exponential Impact, which has collaborated with multiple organizations in order to raise more than $2 million in loan funding, 100 percent of which has gone straight to our small businesses and non-profits.
"We know that our local community is hurting and that we have the tools and that we were in a position where we were able to kind of have a collaborative city-wide effort around supporting our community," stated Natasha Main, executive director for Exponential Impact.
On top of the financial support, the Survive and Thrive program has partnered businesses with mentors meant to aid them in their business strategies. The goal, to help them not only get by (survive), but thrive during these difficult times.
"So basically it was funding so that we could get through this season, not just survive it but actually, I mean they have properly named it, thrive through it, stated Sean Buckles, owner of Building Three Coffee and a recipient of aid from the program.
In an effort to support those that are working to build up our small businesses, the Scripps Howard Foundation and KOAA presented Exponential Impact with a check of $5,000.
"I think everyone understands the economic impact of the COVID pandemic and even pre-COVID, how important it is to grow our local businesses and have localism in our area. I think Survive and Thrive does that in a very impactful way and helps our area," stated Evan Pappas, general manager for KOAA.
"So as we all work towards the rebound, this is an organization we want to get behind," he finished.
If you would like to learn more about the Survive and Thrive program and all the ways Exponential Impact has worked to better our community, CLICK HERE.
