MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 22, 2020) – Steven Dortch, the owner of Dortch Construction LLC is ready to get back into the swing of things. But ready or not, fear is still making doing business the way he used to almost impossible.
“It’s hard to do business when customers are fearful of having you come into their establishments because of social distancing,” said Dortch.
Dortch Construction is a General Contractor founded in 1987. Since the pandemic, Dortch has seen a more than $30,000 drop in revenue.
The company is one of eight businesses that received assistance in the form of a NEED Grant from the EDGE Economic Development Finance Committee today. Also approved were:
- Suds LLC
- Lilee’s Gourmet Bakery LLC
- Diamond Printing Company
- Memphis Records LLC
- Fashion Gang
- D’Cam’Arie Grill & Lounge
- Magic Styles Studio 2.0
In all, the EDGE Finance Committee awarded $41,500 today. To date, the Committee has awarded $179,000 to 32 businesses throughout Memphis’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. MWBEs comprise 28 of those businesses. It’s money that makes all the difference for these companies.
“This grant will help us to pay rent, utilities, and payroll while keeping our focus on working with our customers and looking to the future,” said Dortch.
The Neighborhood Emergency Economic Development (NEED) Grant was created to provide relief to small businesses, located in Memphis’ most vulnerable neighborhoods that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
