Shelbi Wescott

JL Fun Colorz is a custom crayon shop run by two brothers, Jordan and Joshua Liburd, from Tampa, Florida. For as long as the boys could remember, they wanted to start their own company. Entrepreneurship was in their veins, especially after watching their parents successfully run a small business.

Still, to this day, my favorite thing about doing this is hearing customers’ reactions to our sauces while they sample them for the first time. That is when a return customer comes to our stand and tells us how much they love our flavors and what they have done with them. Imagining our sauces on the dinner table at night… It means the world.

We were blown away by the quality of businesses that applied. Ultimately, we settled on five amazing businesses, each earning $2,000 toward growing their small business.  The winners span from California to Florida and represent a variety of industries — from farming to financial planning! But the one thing they all had in common was a dedication to improving the world through sustainable business practices.

King’s Hill Roaster’s mission is to keep profits moving back into the communities where their coffee beans originated. While benevolent capitalism might seem like an oxymoron, the idea has been gaining traction, if not attention. Read more about how Dan and Melody Hues are blazing trails in the coffee roasting space.

Brittany Washington started her business My Beautiful Fluff out of an industry need for plus-sized representation. Like many entrepreneurs, she saw an opening in the market and thought, “If I can’t find it, I’ll create it.” From t-shirts, My Beautiful Fluff expanded into both print-on-demand and manufactured products and has continued to find new ways to grow and reach its audience.

Newks Hot Sauce is a pandemic-born business that has found unusual success in tough times. Read more about the Newks story and how owner Jake Newcomb turned a side hustle into a growing business.

Merchant Maverick Opportunity Grant winner Robin Holmes of Deddle’s Mini Donuts opened her big pink food truck, as she says, just on faith and research. The big pink Deddle’s food truck is a welcome sight in the Baltimore area, bringing mini donut creations, fried chicken, and a whole lotta heart. Learn how Robin started her business and where it’s going.

Merchant Maverick Opportunity Grant winner Jennifer Greer of Jane Deaux Investigations offers services for defendants in court cases in Tennessee. Read more about her, why she got into the private investigation business, what motivates her, and how she’s working to affect the criminal justice system for the better.

The motto of Bri’s Dance Place in Merrillville, Indiana is “We don’t just teach dance, we teach life!” And owner Brianna Hairlson, winner of one of Merchant Maverick’s Opportunity Grants, knows a lot about both topics. Read our full interview with Brianna.

Grant writing is a year-long endeavor that can take up a lot of your time and resources, including the emotional labor of hoping and grieving as announcements are made and the cycle continues. Read on for our top tips on how to write a winning business grant application, and what not to do when you’re applying for a grant.