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Adam Nasir A Fast Rising SaaS Founder Has Created The Perfect Software Solution After A Google Search Failed To Help

Smarter Contact

Adam Nasir, the founder of Smarter Contact began his professional career as a real estate investor, purchasing and selling hundreds of properties. The year was 2017, and he was looking to close more deals in his business by reaching out to a large number of people in a short amount of time. He found texting was helping him get their attention faster. Wondering if he could send many messages at once, he ‘Googled’ it and didn't find a good solution. That is when the initial idea of "Smarter Contact" came to his mind, and he never looked back. “I was surprised to see no one was taking advantage of SMS marketing. People are glued to their phones 24/7 - young or old, our phones are with us at all times, so it’s a no-brainer for businesses to communicate on this channel. My goal was to build personal relationships from my businesses directly with consumers. Fast forward a few years, this is what we are helping businesses do with Smarter Contact.” Revealed Adam. Smarter Contact is an outbound SMS marketing software with a built-in CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. It became really successful due to the user interface being both highly effective at nurturing leads in all stages and simple to use. Sean Terry, CEO of Flip2Freedom and one of their top customers is quoted as saying “ Smarter Contact is hands down the best lead-gen tool. I've tried every SMS software out there, this is the only one that truly delivers ” Smarter Contact provides its customers with an all-in-one solution to convert and close more leads. The software provides many valuable services like a robust CRM, skiptracing, a phone system, and ringless voicemail (RVM) amongst many other valuable tools for businesses to stay in touch. Text messages have been proven to have a 99.8% open rate, which is significantly higher than the current email open rate hovering around 25%. “You’re probably holding your phone right now as you’re reading this. Your customers are no different - they have their phones with them all the time. Mobile marketing is hands down the most effective at getting attention…” Suggested Adam. Using his software personally, Adam 6xed his own real estate business. He realized that this could genuinely benefit other businesses in the country. The initial version of the software took off in its first year of launch and delivered so many results for clients that he realized this was going to be big. Like most startups, Smarter Contact had its share of teething problems. In early 2020 the original software developer who helped bring Adam’s vision to life disappeared, without any documentation to continue. Adam wasn’t going to let go of his dream that easily. On the verge of losing everything, he found a team of software developers in Ukraine that stabilized and further optimized the text messaging software. “We are relentlessly focused on our customers and their experience. We have spent a lot of time making the software as easy to use as possible. So that anyone who uses the software can jump in and figure it out while receiving the highest conversion possible.” explains Adam. Smarter Contact is a fast-growing SaaS company that started with a small team. Due to the company's immense success, a recent business expansion has occurred, and the Smarter Contact team has grown over 50 employees in 3 years. The company has now branched out into many industries, including for real estate agents, ecom, lending, automotive offering tailor-made SMS marketing solutions for companies all over America. Contact Details Smarter Contact Adam Nasir inquiries@smartercontact.com Company Website https://smartercontact.com

November 09, 2022 10:06 AM Eastern Standard Time

As More Governments Continue to Legalize Cannabis, Suitable 420 Properties Continue to Grow

Benzinga

U.S. cannabis sales in 2021 topped $25 billion and are forecasted to reach $33 billion by the end of 2022. The industry’s rapid expansion has increased demand for buying and leasing cannabis properties. Finding suitable retail space is an issue many cannabis business owners face. 420 Property has made the search more convenient by listing cannabis real estate and businesses available to buy or rent. This property management company connects you with financial institutions to fund your business and professionals to help you with zoning and making the right investment decisions. Navigating Zoning Requirements for Cannabis Properties Zoning laws regulate land uses, enforcing certain restrictions on the property. Although your state’s law permits cannabis sales, a locality has specific zoning requirements. Each municipality enforces restrictions on properties, such as enabling cannabis businesses to operate only on specific streets, determining how and where the business can be advertised and prohibiting the business from being located within 1,000 feet of a school. The numerous limitations placed on cannabis business owners make it difficult for them to set up operations. Navigating local zoning requirements and finding the ideal site for your business is best achieved by working with a property management company. Getting into the Cannabis Industry the Right Way Setting up a cannabis business is a long-term investment that requires you to choose the best method of acquiring real estate. That helps you budget and increases your chances of success. Cannabis Real Estate for Sale Buying cannabis real estate requires you to find a green-zoned property. The ideal way to finance it is with cash. Some banks are allowed to issue loans to cannabis businesses, but they’re accompanied by high fees and interest rates. Investors can choose from several premium cannabis real estate listings in California, New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon, Washington and Michigan. If those listings aren’t suitable, more are available on 420 Property. Cannabis Real Estate for Lease One of the benefits of leasing a property for your cannabis business is that you’re not concerned about the market tanking and decreasing the value of your property. Leasing retail space also requires you to have less upfront capital than buying real estate. Exiting an unsuccessful venture is more viable if you rent rather than own the property. But a major challenge entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry face is high rent. Fortunately, it’s possible to find affordable cannabis retail space to rent. You can visit 420 Property ’s website for a larger selection of real estate to lease. Cannabis Businesses for Sale Setting up a cannabis company from scratch and acquiring all the licenses, equipment and establishing a client base can be an arduous and lengthy process. You can circumvent those challenges by buying an existing cannabis business. Choose a cannabis business for sale or check out 420 Property to connect with a broker who will help you find a great offer. Cannabis Investment Opportunities Instead of setting up a business and being involved in the operations, you can profit from the cannabis industry as an investor and earn passive income. Select the best cannabis investment opportunity and let your money work for you. 420 Property lists numerous investment options for you to explore. Cannabis Real Estate Has Massive Growth Potential Considering that some experts predict the cannabis industry will reach $70 billion in annual sales by 2030, demand for cannabis real estate is rising. You require the assistance of a property management company that will provide guidance about zoning requirements and assist in finding real estate that suits your needs. You can find cannabis listings, financing, insurance, and cannabis real estate brokers on 420 property Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 08, 2022 04:25 PM Eastern Standard Time

Pros and Cons of Custom Jewelry

Benzinga

Most industries change over time, and the jewelry industry is no exception. In the past, people would walk into a jewelry store and select a piece for themselves or as a gift. But today’s consumers are asking to be a part of the design process by commissioning jewelers to create custom jewelry. There's all sorts of options from custom earrings, custom bracelets, custom pendants, and many more. So what are the pros and cons of custom-made jewelry? Take a look at this exciting trend so you can decide whether it’s right for you. What is Custom Jewelry? Custom jewelry is specifically designed for someone. Custom pieces are one-of-a-kind and are tailored to fit the style and needs of the wearer. For instance, someone may decide they love their great-grandmother’s engagement ring diamond, but they don’t like the ring's design. They can take the diamond and use it to create a custom-designed engagement ring for themselves. Also, a vital piece of advice: remember to protect it! How Long Does Custom Jewelry Last? Every piece of custom jewelry is different so there is no one answer to how long it will last. For instance, if your custom jewelry is gold-filled, it will typically last 30 years or longer. But if you use a lesser-quality material, your jewelry won’t last as long. Proper care for your custom piece is essential when it comes to how long it will last. Speak to the jeweler when creating your piece to determine the best way to care for it. Should You Get Jewelry Insurance on Custom Pieces? Any time you purchase a fine piece of jewelry, especially one that you designed yourself and can’t replace, you should insure it with jewelry insurance. This type of insurance will ensure that if something happens to your custom piece, the insurance company will reimburse you for your loss. Once your piece is designed, be sure to contact a jewelry insurance company, get a quote, and make sure you’re covered in case of a loss or theft. Advantages of Custom-Designed Jewelry As you can imagine, there are several advantages to creating your own jewelry design. Here are a few to consider. You’re Involved in the Entire Creation Process When you build a house, you want to be involved in every aspect of the process. You want to ensure that the floors, windows and colors are all to your liking. It should be no different with your jewelry. When you design your custom piece, you will be involved in the process as you work with the jewelry designers to create your dream piece. This will give you the opportunity to make sure that, once the piece is completed, you love every detail of it. Opportunity to Add Personalized Sentimentality Jewelry should be personal, and when you have the chance to customize it, it will mean more to you. You can add sentimentality to your custom jewelry by tucking special engravings on the inner circle of wedding bands or the back of a custom watch, by using a stone from another piece of jewelry or by adding other materials or colorful stones to your jewelry. Create One-of-a-Kind Pieces If you love the idea of wearing a piece of custom jewelry that no one else has, custom jewelry might be the ideal thing for you. When you design your own jewelry, you will never see your bracelet on another woman’s wrist. And because the piece is custom, it will likely attract the admiration and comments of a lot of people who see you wearing it. Disadvantages of Custom-Designed Jewelry Along with all of the advantages, there are some disadvantages of custom jewelry. Higher Price Points Because the jewelry you are designing is custom, you can expect to pay a higher price than you would if you choose a ready-made piece off the shelf. But if you want a one-of-a-kind custom piece, the higher price tag is likely worth it. Without Proper Collaboration, Mistakes May Happen When you are working with a jeweler to design a custom piece, it’s important that you closely collaborate with them. If you don’t, it’s possible that the jeweler will misunderstand your wants and create a piece that misses the mark. Longer Process from Start to Finish If you want a special piece of fine jewelry to wear for an event the upcoming weekend, custom jewelry is not the right choice. When designing a custom piece, you must have patience because the process is deliberate and thoughtful. Timing may vary depending on the complexity of a piece. For example, simple diamond pendants take less time to design than a more intricate piece like a graduated tennis necklace. Before you begin the design process, speak to the jeweler and get a time estimate for the process — and then make sure you are willing to commit to it. Create a Stunning Piece of Jewelry That Sets You Apart Wearing jewelry is a great way to enhance an outfit and express your style, but sometimes, you want a piece that no one has or has ever seen. That’s where custom jewelry comes in. If you decide you want to create your one-of-a-kind piece, speak to a jewelry insurer to protect it. After all, it would be a shame to create a beautiful custom piece only to lose it and have no way to recoup your investment. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 08, 2022 01:20 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Trust Through Transparency: How AutoTechIQ Is Rebuilding Consumer Confidence In The Auto Repair Industry

Benzinga

When you google ‘trust,’ you’ll find “ Firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance. ” Surveys reveal that nearly half of car owners think auto repair shops overcharge them. In fact, more than half would like a better explanation of the condition, cause, and correction to make sure they know whether the money spent is a good investment in the safety, driveability, and longevity of their vehicle. AutoTechIQ.com addresses this uncertainty by adding vehicle-specific education content and recommending auto repair businesses certified by AutoTechIQ. A new way of gaining trust Digital inspection and communication tools have created a platform for car owners to address concerns about overpaying. The traditional trust in the shop to provide a safe and reliable means of transportation is accompanied by clear and transparent education for car owners to make decisions based on well-documented findings. They are the basis for a budget and appointment schedule for future visits. How does transparency create trust? Assume your car smells like burning oil, and it is hard for you to pinpoint the source, so you drop off your car at a repair shop. Modern shops will perform a Digital Vehicle Health Inspection, which not only documents the testing of your concern but adds 35-50 topics for a full bill of health. For example, in the case image below, a transaxle seal dripping was causing a burning oil smell; the red arrows and text document the details. Red arrows point out the leak, and the text provides The condition (the smell), The cause (the shaft seal is leaking.), and The correction (the seal needs to be replaced). This documentation provides complete transparency and, applied to all topics, will make you ask for a quote. You'll be more confident that the shop will perform high-quality work. Car Owners like me experience the same Another element of trust is people’s decisions who are in a similar or identical situation. For example, buying products and services online is almost unthinkable without reading reviews. Consumers not only browse the good and bad reviews but also prioritize reviews by people in the same situation, like car owners experiencing the same symptom and who drive the same vehicle type. AutoTechIQ.com will show, per symptom, how many car owners driving the same vehicle type have experienced the same symptom and what potential fixes auto repair shops perform to fix it. Since similar symptoms don’t mean a single fix, the website lists all typical and potential repairs to make you confident about what to discuss with your trusted auto repair shop. You can explore an example of the burning oil smell here: https://www.autotechiq.com/symptom/my-car-smells-like-burning-oil. Can I repair the car myself to eliminate a problem? Most symptoms need a professional inspection, test and/or diagnosis to pinpoint the cause. A key element of today’s auto repair is the ability of the shop’s service advisor to educate the customer about why the repair needs to happen and what safety, cost avoidance, and environmental impact it imposes. Then, with a list of options on the table, the customer can decide the best outcome for their vehicle and their goals. AutoTechIQ has introduced three certification levels for the shops near you: Certified Business Recommended Business Business in Good Standing All levels require at least 100 Google Reviews with an average score of 4.5 and higher. Certified businesses conduct a Digital Auto Checkup on every vehicle and recommend the right approach for longevity, reliability, and driveability instead of just replacing parts and correcting the car’s symptoms. Then, you ultimately choose what is budget-friendly for you. More details can be found here. Also, note that recommended businesses conduct a Digital Vehicle Health Inspection but have not been certified yet. A high level of transparency eases your concern about overpaying or not having the correct diagnosis. AutoTechIQ.com is extracting symptoms and fixes from millions of work orders across North America and making the results available to you in an easy-to-digest way and with a minimum of the technical lingo experts often say. How do I find the best professional auto repair shop for my car? There has been a significant change in how former ‘mom-and-pop’ shops focus on repairing vehicles after becoming professional businesses. Now, they focus on helping you determine your vehicle's best outcome by meeting your goals for longevity and dependability. This approach spans longer than just one visit. Check the auto repair shops near you! Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 08, 2022 01:14 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Investis Digital Releases New Commerce Report

Investis Digital

Investis Digital, a leading global digital communications company, announced today the publication of a new report that helps businesses navigate the rapidly evolving commerce landscape. The company’s Global Connected Commerce Insights Report examines the key trends that are shaping the direction of global commerce in 2023 amid economic uncertainty. The report asserts that eCommerce and commerce more broadly are evolving into a seamless, total brand experience with the customer at the center – or Connected Commerce. “The pandemic-era eCommerce boom is over, and the explosive shift to a digital-first economy is slowing down,” said Steve Guillemette, executive vice president, global head of Commerce, Investis Digital. “The next big opportunity for business growth is to deliver a total, connected experience across all channels within commerce, both physical and digital.” For example, leading retailers are providing shoppers with apps that help them find deals and personalized recommendations while shopping in store, and their shopping preferences are connected to the retailer’s website. The payoff is strong: Gartner says that by 2024, organizations providing a total experience will outperform competitors by 25% in satisfaction metrics for all stakeholder experience. Investis Digital’s Global Connected Commerce Insights Report shares trends and data on some of the chief catalysts fueling the emergence of Connected Commerce: data activation, the customer experience, digital content, digital media, and intelligence insights. For instance, the report notes that TikTok has inspired a want for authentic and engaging content. The report suggests that marketers should lean into a video-first, user generated content strategy that is optimized for mobile in order to attract eyeballs to their brand and use static assets to scale content and remain top of mind. The report also urges brands to invest in taxonomy, data, and governance in order to do more with less during times of economic uncertainty. Doing so will ensure that commerce assets can be configured and scaled to match customer needs. “Succeeding with a customer-first Connected Commerce strategy means that a brand’s internal teams must collaborate to create and share content assets that result in more personalized experiences,” Guillemette said. “All this must be done efficiently and cost-effectively. Our report offers these and many more insights.” To read the full report, click here. Read more about Investis Digital’s commerce solutions here. Investis Digital is a global digital communications company. Through a proprietary approach we call Connected Content™, we unite compelling communications, intelligent digital experiences, and performance marketing to help companies build deeper connections with audiences and drive business performance. A unique blend of expertise, technology and “always on” service allow clients to trust that their digital footprint and brand reputation is secure and protected 24/7 by our dedicated team of 600 digital experts across 9 global offices. To learn more, please visit www.InvestisDigital.com. Contact Details Kristen Kalupski +1 646-766-9040 Kristen.kalupski@investisdigital.com Company Website https://www.investisdigital.com

November 08, 2022 08:17 AM Eastern Standard Time

FiscalNote Holdings (NYSE: NOTE) Still Relying On Twitter To Get Your Political News? This Company With Insight From Over 75 Years Of Reliable Experience Could Give You A Better Edge

Benzinga

If you’re still relying on Twitter for political news, you could be falling behind. There are just too many bills and legislative changes for the social network to track. Since World War II, Congress has typically enacted 4 million to 6 million words of new law in each two-year congress, according to GovTrack. The topics of these acts range from genocide prevention and nuclear power use to abortion rights and corporate taxes. You could argue that keeping tabs on the highest profile cases — like the overturning of the Roe v. Wade Act of 1973 — is a possibility, but that effectively also gives the reigns to social media outlets to decide what is worthy of public attention. And certain legislative changes that have no bearing on the majority of the population may still be significant to others. As the midterm elections approach, it’s more important than ever that Americans keep tabs on the political landscape. Catering to the needs of the people, FiscalNote Holdings Inc. (NYSE: NOTE) is an agency specialized in collecting and analyzing data on the regulatory processes in the U.S. and abroad. Here’s how it could help you stay ahead of the political curve. Could FiscalNote Change The Game? According to FiscalNote, over 5,000 organizations trust the company’s regulatory data operations, including Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA) and the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Unlike other data-centric companies like Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) and Splunk Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLK), FiscalNote’s emphasis is to help customers like Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) stay ahead of rapidly evolving political, corporate and regulatory environments. Two of the company’s products stand out in this category. First is CQ Federal, a software platform aimed at ensuring individuals never miss an update on legislation and regulations. Armed with a user-optimized application, CQ Federal provides investors immediate access to updates on the issues that matter across bills, transcripts, reports, votes and more. The U.S. government produces thousands of documents and updates, and CQ Federal allows you to sift through them via advanced tools and dig deep into those that impact you the most. Second is VoterVoice, a comprehensive digital advocacy solution that helps campaigns mobilize their supporters, amplify their message and take legislative action. VoterVoice connects campaign organizers’ advocates via best-in-class address-matching capabilities, ensuring the campaign message is heard by those with the power to enforce change. Additionally, VoterVoice functions as a virtual hub, allowing campaigners to reach out to their supporters via e-mail and notifications and keep them engaged and informed via newsletters, polls and updates. Think of it like ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: ZI) of politics. With tools tailored to optimizing the curation of important political information, why depend on unspecialized alternatives? Reacting quickly and properly to emerging information is a key quality of competent management teams. FiscalNote, which has over 75 years of unbiased experience, allows individuals to do so with ease. Ready to level up in the political playing field? Head to FiscalNote to get started. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 08, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Assembly Elevates Joel Coppersmith to Global Director of Measurement and Effectiveness

Assembly

Global omnichannel media agency Assembly has named Joel Coppersmith to a new role as Global Director of Measurement & Effectiveness. Throughout his more than 3-year tenure at Assembly, Joel has worked alongside stakeholders across the agency to define and evolve our approach to measurement, and key to this new remit will be standardizing measurement and effectiveness strategy globally while staying agile to the change in the media and measurement landscape. There is more pressure than ever on CMOs and marketing leaders to drive performance, which has in turn increased the accountability of Marketing to deliver change and growth across businesses effectively. But with disparate media platforms, emerging media formats both on and offline, and changing privacy regulations, it’s a complex challenge – one Assembly is well positioned to solve. “We can offer clients answers to questions around the efficacy of their investment and the role their media budget is playing in delivering their brand and business objectives. Our focus is on equipping clients with strong, compelling arguments that they can use internally to explain the role that Marketing is playing and the value it's driving,” said Joel Coppersmith, Global Director of Measurement & Effectiveness. Assembly has dedicated time and investment towards bringing our measurement strategy to life across the agency, with Joel leading a significant effort to upskill and transform talent’s knowledge of the measurement landscape to have more informed, solution-oriented conversations with clients. And given the current economic climate, measurement is of even greater importance for marketers. Joel added, “With the challenging economic reality, paired with the disruptions to the online tracking environment via legislation and consumer pressure, there is a lot of uncertainty for businesses – this makes the need to prove the value of delivery even more crucial, making its way to the top of brands’ priority lists.” “The ‘Effectiveness’ part of the role is the crux of what we’re about. It’s about understanding why and how Performance and Brand media impacts consumer behavior, and how that drives growth for a business,” said Coppersmith. Assembly Managing Director of Europe, Kate O’Mahony, added, “Joel represents the very best of Assembly: embracing change, and driving progressive growth, which is how we think about our measurement and effectiveness strategy for clients. With Joel dedicated to this charge, we can help our clients and teams break through the complexities and ensure their marketing programs are adding the value to their businesses that they should be.” About Assembly: Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,600 people around the world. We’re purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. Visit www.assemblyglobal.com for more information. Contact Details Sara Pollack, VP of Marketing +1 917-438-4922 sara.pollack@assemblyglobal.com Company Website https://www.assemblyglobal.com/

November 08, 2022 04:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Clean Room Primer Group Announces Speakers for Third Roadshow Event in San Francisco

Clean Room Primer

The Clean Room Primer Group today announces its selection of headline speakers for its upcoming event in San Francisco, California on Thursday, November 10, 2022. The mission of the group is to demystify data clean rooms and help marketing and advertising professionals adapt and use them in a privacy-safe marketing environment. The San Francisco event marks the third in a series of events for the Clean Room Primer, all geared to expand on use cases and offer real-world examples on usage of data clean rooms. The headline speakers attending the San Francisco event include: Frederick Stanichev, Head of Sales, Habu Christine Grammier, Head of Solutions, LiveRamp Dave Chambers, Director, Partner Solutions, Claravine Chase Engstrom, Director, Strategic Solutions, InfoSum “We are excited to bring our Roadshow to the west coast with our third event in San Francisco. This technology is unique in that it requires deep collaboration from all sides of the industry - including brands, publishers, agencies and platforms. Our events are meant to bring some of this collaborative thinking to the forefront and help the industry better understand data clean rooms,” said Adam Gelles, co-founder of the Clean Room Primer group and CEO, The B2B Marketing Company. “ As we look forward, a more privacy-centric approach to advertising and marketing is critical as new regulations, platform changes and the third-party cookie demise become more prevalent.” The group has co-authored an initial piece of educational material – The Clean Room Primer – a white paper covering clean room taxonomy and definitions; use cases; and a look at the future. The white paper was released during the group’s inaugural event at Advertising Week in New York City in October. Following this event, The Clean Room Primer will wrap up its inaugural roadshow with a final event on December 6th in Los Angeles. Leading practitioners will share real-world insights on why and how to use data clean rooms for marketing and advertising. For more information and to register for the upcoming events, click here. About The Clean Room Primer Group The Clean Room Primer is an ad-hoc consortium of advertising industry executives with a shared mission of providing marketers, agencies, and publishers with a reliable and expert source on data clean rooms, their use and implementation best practices. Helping the industry prepare for a new privacy landscape. Inaugural participating companies include Habu, LiveRamp, InfoSum, Claravine, Kite Hill Public Relations, Marcato Solutions, The B2B Marketing Company, Neustar and Merkle. For more information, visit CleanRoomPrimer.com and follow on LinkedIn and Twitter. About The B2B Marketing Company We are a leading provider of business marketing and revenue generating programs for high growth, mid-market and enterprise companies. Our clients have included Microsoft, GumGum, Integral Ad Science, Spectrum Reach, Adobe and many others across technology, media and entertainment, transportation and financial services companies. We provide clients marketing, evangelism, content and excellence programs using our proven methodologies and processes that have generated over hundreds of millions of dollars for B2B brands. Learn more at www.theb2bmarketing.co. Contact Details Kite Hill PR Michael Kocher cleandata@kitehillpr.com

November 07, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

READY FOR BUSINESS FUND IS DISTRIBUTING MORE THAN $200,000 IN CASH GRANTS TO 76 SMALL BUSINESSES IN WASHINGTON

Comcast Washington

SEATTLE, November 7, 2022 – The Ready for Business Fund – a relief program launched by GSBA, Washington State’s LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce, and Comcast – is distributing $2,500 and $4,000 cash grants to 76 small businesses throughout Washington state. The Ready for Business Fund was founded in the summer of 2020 with an initial $100,000 investment from Comcast and designation of GSBA as the fund manager. To date, the fund has supported more than 200 small businesses in Washington with nearly $1 million in financial support and wraparound services. The Ready for Business Fund was renewed this year with an additional $75,000 in funding from Comcast and GSBA, reprising its role as the program and fund manager. Grants from the Ready for Business Fund will be made possible by more than $150,000 in additional donations from Pepsi, T-Mobile, US Bank, Meta, and Verity Credit Union and a $100,000 grant from King County. These funds will now support small business owners across all industries, including local restaurants, bookstores, bistros, shops and stores, which are an important part of the social fabric in our communities. “GSBA recognizes the importance of investing in the small businesses that are critical to a thriving community and economy,” said Ilona Lohrey, GSBA president and CEO. “We are proud to once again partner with Comcast to grow our Ready for Business Fund to support a diverse group of business owners who need our help now more than ever.” The Ready for Business Fund was created to support small businesses in Washington, especially those owned by LGBTQ people, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), and women, who are at greater risk in today’s uncertain economy. Grant recipients also include small businesses located in rural areas of Washington that lack proximity to resources. “We're grateful for our continued partnership with the GSBA to recognize so many resilient small businesses through the Ready for Business Fund,” said Diem Ly, Community Impact director, Comcast Washington. “We at Comcast believe and act on our shared value that ensuring equitable access to resources for BIPOC and LGBTQ-owned businesses means all of our communities and neighborhoods benefit in the long-run.” Feel free to adjust as you see fit! “Between recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns over inflation, our small businesses have faced some of the most difficult struggles over the last few years, and it is up to our community to step up and support them. That’s why partnerships like the one between King County, GSBA and Comcast are so imperative right now,” shared King County Councilmember Joe McDermott. GSBA assembled a selection committee consisting of diverse community and business leaders to evaluate the applications received. Notifications to grant applicants about the status of their application have begun and awards will be delivered beginning this week. All grant recipients will also receive wrap-around services, including GSBA membership and consulting. Ready for Business Fund grant recipients include: More information is available at theGSBA.org/ready-for-business. About GSBA Established in 1981, GSBA is Washington State's LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce and is the largest of its kind in North America. The chamber represents over 1,400 small business, corporate, and nonprofit members who share the values of promoting diversity, equity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace. GSBA proudly serves as a connector across the region, bringing communities together through business while advocating for civil rights and small business. GSBA also promotes LGBTQ tourism through Travel Out Seattle, advocates for small businesses in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood through the Capitol Hill Business Alliance (CHBA) and invests in the next generation of LGBTQ and allied leaders through the GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Andy Colley Andy_Colley@Comcast.com Company Website https://www.thegsba.org/business-resources/ready-for-business

November 07, 2022 08:56 AM Pacific Standard Time

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