The 36Squared Business Incubator, home to the McKinley Park neighborhood’s Small Business Development Center, is again offering grants to disabled entrepreneurs through its Boost Awards. The program, which is accepting new applications through May 31, 2019, will award funding of up to $1,000 to individuals who have a disability that poses a challenge to success in the business world.
“It’s very hard to find grants for people with disabilities,” said 2018 Boost Award winner Justin Cooper, who used his grant to fund new equipment for his video production business. “The grant has really come in handy.”
Grant committee members Hussain Bhanpuri, Andrew Fogaty and Laura Martinez congratulate 2018 Boost Award winner Justin Cooper, seated.Interested entrepreneurs can apply online at the Boost Award sign-up page on the 36Squared website. In addition to being a resident of Illinois, an applicant must also submit a short, informal video explaining his or her enterprise, the business challenges faced through disability and how the grant money would be used.
A team of judges will review all submissions and pick wnners based on business viability, entrepreneurial experience and the challenges faced by the applicant. A total of $5,000 is available for the awards.
“I had no idea of the additional challenges faced by disabled entrepreneurs,” said incubator Executive Director Andrew Fogaty. He said he was inspired to help create the Boost Award program after working with blind chef Laura Martinez, one of the clients of the Small Business Development Center.
Winners of the 2018 Boost Award grants include Cooper, trucking company owner Roel Cano and Windy City Plates, a local manufacturer employing a disabled workforce. They all received their Boost Awards in June 2018.
Team members from winning 2018 Boost Award applicant Windy City Plates accept their grant from committee members in June 2018 at the 36Squared Business Incubator.
