Revitalizing Communities Through Small Business Grantmaking

5.27.2021 — LISC StoriesEconomic Development

Since 1979, LISC has become the nation’s largest community development nonprofit, investing over $1 billion annually to help transform lives and revitalize communities. The LISC + Lowe’s Small Business Relief Grant is one of our most recent partnerships that supported small businesses in the community that were negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Margeaux and Linda’s Vegan Kitchen is a small family-run food business that creates a rotating menu of grab-and-go vegan wraps and healthy grain bowls. The business began when Margeaux Zadikian, one of the three co-owners, noticed the small number of high-quality grab-and-go food options available. She was inspired to create a trustworthy family-run brand that offers a line-up of foods that were healthy versions of nostalgic childhood eats.

So, the ML Vegan Kitchen was born with a mission to raise the bar on pre-packaged food. Since 2012, they had been strictly a B2B brand, only servicing retail stores. But, when COVID-19 hit, they lost half of their customers, who consisted of smaller chains, juice bars, and coffee shops. The suppliers also increased their prices, making it difficult for ML Vegan Kitchen to stay competitive with their current prices, putting a strain on their finances.

After receiving the LISC + Lowe’s Small Business Relief Grant, Margeaux and her business partners were able to pivot their business by building an e-commerce site and offering their food directly to end-users. They’ve also been able to connect with customers through home deliveries.

“Getting the LISC grant made me feel like there was hope for us to keep going and stay in business,” Margeaux said. “It also felt incredibly supportive.”

Another beneficiary of the LISC + Lowe’s Small Business Relief Grant is Los-Angeles GoGo Gear. GoGo Gear was started in 2008 to provide women motorcycle riders with fashionable protective riding gear.

After getting laid off from their corporate jobs, Desiree Estrada and her business partner Arlene Battishill decided to do something different. Being scooter and motorcycle riders, they had often lamented the lack of stylish, protective gear for women. They also noticed that many women’s motorcycle groups often complained about how difficult and demeaning it is to wear protective gear for men.

So, they established GoGo Gear to meet those needs. Their line comprises cutting-edge, feminine outerwear with robust interior engineering that includes abrasion-resistant fabric, quality armor in the back, shoulders, and elbows, and highly reflective details. To ensure that they offer protection to real women, the store provides outfits ranging from size 2 to size 28. They also have men and gender-neutral products.

Since GoGo Gear’s products are mainly for outdoor use, the pandemic’s lockdown negatively affected the business. Their sales dropped drastically, and both Desiree and Arleen had to forego their pay to keep their business afloat.

Therefore, the two business partners were excited when they received the LISC+Lowe’s Small Business Relief Grant. “We were beyond thrilled! It was incredible that organizations were seeking to help small businesses like ours,” Desiree said. “We were able to use the LISC grant to order inventory for 2021 (rather than close the business) and develop a new offering to entice more customers to our virtual doors in 2021.”

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the local economy. By supporting the small businesses through this crisis, these grants are revitalizing communities that would suffer if these businesses were to shut down.

Revitalizing Communities Through Small Business Grantmaking

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