Released by Duke Energy.GREENVILLE, S.C. – Duke Energy is teaming up with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce to start a new program aimed at helping small businesses rebound and survive during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The Chamber will use a $100,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to provide support to 56 small businesses in the counties Duke Energy serves in the state, with half of those owned by minorities and women.
The program will provide mentoring over six months from experts in the fields of marketing, legal support, advocacy training, governance, sustainability, finance and taxes. Participants will also receive a $1,000 microgrant to help with expenses related to the pandemic.
Additionally, the Chamber will offer online classes taught by subject-matter experts on these and other topics to small businesses across South Carolina.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy in South Carolina, and the pandemic has challenged their very existence these past few months,” said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy’s South Carolina president. “We’re pleased to work with the state Chamber to offer these critical resources to the business community during these challenging times.”
The Chamber is in the process of standing up the structure of the program and will announce additional details on how businesses can participate in the coming weeks.
“The S.C. Chamber is excited to partner with the Duke Energy Foundation to administer this new program focused on helping small and minority owned businesses in the state,” said Ted Pitts, president and CEO of the state Chamber. “This creative small business program will help entrepreneurs and their companies grow, benefiting them, their communities and the state.”
For information on what Duke Energy is doing to assist customers and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit dukeenergyupdates.com. For more on the Chamber’s efforts, visit https://www.scchamber.net/covid-19-resource-hub.
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