Local Guilford Business Awarded $25K Grant From WBDC

GUILFORD, CT — Four Connecticut women-owned businesses will receive $25,000 grants from the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC), and included is one from Guilford.

Centrality Physical Therapy & Wellness, owned by Jennifer Morgan, was one of eight finalists competing for the grants in a "pitch night" at Quinnipiac University.

The finalists were selected from a pool of 48 eligible applicants to compete in the event. Each business presented to a panel of distinguished judges, who determined the grant recipients.

The other grant recipients include Family Eyecare of Orange (Orange), owned by Dr. Natacha Louis-Charles; Leaps & Bones, owned by Amy Kenkel and Laurie Surprenant (Southington/South Windsor/Manchester); and String Theory School of Music, owned by Amy Leigh (New London).

"While four finalists received $25,000 grants," said WBDC CEO Fran Pastore in a news release, "I want to emphasize that all 48 eligible businesses, and especially the eight finalists, should be incredibly proud of themselves — not just for their participation in this competition but for the incredible enterprises they’ve built and grown. These women are making a significant impact in their local communities and playing a vital role in strengthening Connecticut’s economy."

The grant money is coming from the Accelerate Grant Program, which is designed to foster continued growth in women-owned businesses that have previously received a WBDC Equity Match Grant, Ignite Grant, or one of the four Municipal Grants.

Eligible businesses, having received one of these grants at least 12 months ago, were invited to apply this past spring. Applicants were required to demonstrate significant revenue growth as a direct result of their prior WBDC grant funding.