Grants go to 25 business owners at Women’s Entrepreneurial Conference

Twenty-five women business owners received grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 during the recent Women’s Entrepreneurial Conference (WEC) in Salt Lake City.

Earning the top grant, the $5,000 Wendy J. English Grant For Growth, was Kathy Anderson, owner of Little Apple’s Child Care Center in Grantsville.

The grants were presented during the fifth annual conference. The event was co-presented by the Women’s Business Center of Utah and the Utah Women’s Networking Group. The one-day conference is dedicated to inspiring, educating and assisting women business owners build relationships and access capital.

The conference is a fundraiser for an annual grant pitching competition which culminates at the final session of the conference, where attendees get to hear their peer women business owners compete for the top five grants and a People’s Choice award.

“I am excited to receive this grant, which will help us build a computer lab at our child care center,” Anderson said. “I learned a lot about how to talk about my business in the process.”

Twenty-five owners were selected from 140 applications received in January. Each prepared a three-minute pitch focused on their opportunities, how they would spend a $5,000 grant and what the potential for growth could be. Two pitch rounds were held leading up to the conference.

Among the grant recipients are:

• $2,250: Nailya Ragimova, Doner Kebab Express, West Jordan.

• $1,750: LaTonya Jackson, Iridescent Hair Co., Riverdale.

• $1,250: Alicia Berardo, Daydreams Cakes & Pastries LLC, Salt Lake City.

• $1,250: Luisa Tupou, Tupou Tusis, Bountiful.

• $1,000 (People’s Choice): LaTonya Jackson, Iridescent Hair Co., Riverdale.

• $1,000 (Nonprofit Grant): Kim Bowsher, Women MTB, Salt Lake City.

The following women business owners were each awarded a $500 WEC grant:

• Bisharo Muse, Bijay’s Hala, Providence.

• Camri Johnson, J Family Equine LLC, Monroe.

• Liz Ivie, Nourish LLC, Duchesne.

• Ludy Leveille, Beyond Beautiful Extensions, Salt Lake City.

• Mariah Robertson, Real Green Clean, Moab.

• Molly Kohrman, Brownies! Brownies! Brownies!, Salt Lake City.

• Najati Abdalla, Namash Swahili Cuisine, Salt Lake City (WEC).

• Najati Abdalla, Namash Swahili Cuisine, Salt Lake City (Salt Lake County Grant).

• Tamara Garza, Mystic Salon & Spa, Salt Lake City (Salt Lake County Grant).

• Teri Bailey, Sunset Meadows Floral & Gift, Ephraim.

The following women business owners were each awarded a $250 WEC grant:

• Andrea Latimer, Bitters Lab, LLC, Salt Lake City.

• Angela Hill, AJ’s Treehouse, Midvale.

• Holly Snow Canada, Superbloom Coffee Roasters, Santa Clara.

• Ivy Andreasen, Ivy’s Music Studio, Brigham City.

• Karen Dutson, Ninja Sisters Professional Cleaning Services, Toquerville.

• Lindsay Miller, The Essential Calendar BLLC, Draper.

• Lindsey Wing, Elevated Ave., Salt Lake City.

• Marcela Wardle, Utah Bus LLC, Salt Lake City.

• Melissa Sevy, Ethik LLC, Provo.

• Rowena Montoya, JulieAnn Caramels, Sandy.

• Tamara Garza, Mystic Salon & Spa in Salt Lake City.

“The Women’s Business Center of Utah is thrilled to be a part of this special conference that shines a bright light on female entrepreneurship,” said Ann Marie Wallace, state director of the Women’s Business Center of Utah.

“The grant competition helps women to access critical funding, all through event sponsorship and donations, in order to make a difference in women-owned businesses who possess the entrepreneurial spirit that Wendy English epitomized.”

The Women’s Business Center of Utah is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization that helps Utah women business owners start and grow successful businesses through individual mentorship and group in-person and online training. The organization is in part funded through a cooperative agreement between the Salt Lake Chamber and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Utah Women’s Networking Group (UTWNG) welcomes business owners, professionals and individuals looking to build valuable relationships. The mission of the UTWNG is to network and educate members while giving back to the community they serve through a variety of events and engagement on its Facebook page.