Two Female-Owned West Hartford Businesses Awarded Special Grants

Women's Business Development Council

WEST HARTFORD, CT— Two female-founded West Hartford businesses recently received special grant funding from a statewide nonprofit backing such initiatives.

Earlier this month, Little Antz and Warehouse635 joined a group of 52 women-founded small businesses across the state to receive grants from the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC).

The WBDC is a nonprofit organization that "supports economic prosperity for women and strengthens communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut."

The two businesses participated in an event on July 1 marking the milestone of WBDC distributing more than $10 million in grant funding to Connecticut small businesses since 2020.

Little Antz, located at 169 Oakwood Ave. and a provider of prenatal and postpartum health, as well as pediatric physical therapy, was founded by Dr. Leticia S. Jacquet.

She launched the business to empower, educate, heal and inspire clients to live a health and pain-free lifestyle.

She is using grant funds to obtain much-needed physical therapy supplies and equipment in her new dedicated space in West Hartford.

Warehouse635, founded by Camille Hudson and located at 635 New Park Ave., is an open space event venue that can be rented out for any personal or business occasion or celebration.

Recognized as the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ by the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Hudson is using her grant to purchase AV equipment and front door access technology to improve the rental experience for customers.

“While surpassing the $10 million mark in less than four years is a monumental achievement that we are incredibly proud of,” said WBDC Founder and Chief Executive Officer Fran Pastore, “it’s what these grants mean to our state’s women-owned small businesses that is most important. These funds have been instrumental in helping businesses across the state launch, grow, and thrive. This funding is having a real, measurable impact on our Main Street businesses and on our state’s economy.”

Representatives from JPMorgan Chase joined Little Antz and Warehouse635 at Monday’s event.

JPMorgan Chase was one of the earliest supporters of Ignite (known as Equity Match Grant when it was launched in 2020) and has continued its support, most recently with a $300,000 grant in 2023.

In total, the financial institution has contributed $600,000 to the program since 2020.

For more information on the Women’s Business Development Council, click on this link.