O'Fallon Dad Brandon Rotz Receives The First Years Parentpreneur Grant

(JANUARY 18, 2016) ― Recognizing that running or starting a business with kids in tow can throw a lot of unpredictability into life’s journey, The First Years – a leading global juvenile products manufacturer – launched its inaugural Parentpreneur Grant Program in fall 2015. New and expecting parent entrepreneurs from across the United States were invited to apply for a pool of grant funding totaling $50,000. Today, The First Years proudly announces that Brandon Rotz of O’Fallon, IL will receive $7,000 in grant funding for BTR Woodworks, to help make his dream job a reality.

Rotz started his handmade wood projects as a hobby three years ago, and since then has experienced impressive growth with more than 15,000 products sold. With his 1-year-old son Jude and another baby on the way, Rotz is working to make his beautiful stands and cutting boards into a business that will become a lasting legacy for his family, passed down to future generations.

Rotz will use his grant funding for BTR Woodworks toward building a website, purchasing a CNC router tool, sander and dust collector, and professional photography. For additional information about the business, visit etsy.com/shop/btrWoodWorks.

More than 100 applications for individual grants of up to $10,000 were submitted by innovative parents who are running small businesses founded less than five years ago, and parents with new business concepts. These entrepreneurial pursuits and ideas are being developed and overseen by smart, savvy and creative new parents, all with at least one child under five years old.

“For more than 60 years, The First Years has manufactured juvenile products to help prepare new and expecting parents for the unpredictable journey of parenting, from stopping the food fights during mealtime, to soaking up the fun during bath time and providing tools for successful potty training,” says Lynne Mello, Vice President of Marketing Communications for The First Years. “Our Parentpreneur Grant Program recognizes that running or starting your own business while also caring for little ones takes these daily parenting challenges to a whole new level. We were blown away by the innovation and creativity we saw coming from today’s parent entrepreneurs, and were thrilled by the response we received.”

Each grant program applicant was evaluated by The First Years judging panel based on the strength and validity of their business concept or plan, ability to demonstrate need and specify what grant funding will be used for, and ability to best express why their entity is deserving of funding through the application and related supporting documents.

“For the grant program’s inaugural year, The First Years is proud to award funding to ten deserving businesses, including BTR Woodworks,” added Mello. “We’re excited to see how our grants will help entrepreneurial parents like Brandon Rotz reach their goals.”

For information about the additional nine businesses from across the country that received funding through The First Years Parentpreneur Grant Program, and to see photos of each of the 10 grant recipients with their families, please visit thefirstyears.com/grants.