Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, salons across the city have had to deal with a decrease in customers, increased cleaning costs and simply trying to do their job in the age of social distancing.
More than a quarter of all NEED Grant recipients have been salons.
“My business has suffered majorly,” said First Choice Salon Experience owner, Stephanie McAuley. “I am using my personal money and help from family so that I can stay afloat. I’m praying I don’t have to close again or go out of business because of this pandemic.”
Today, EDGE awarded $20,000 in NEED Grants to three salons—First Choice Salon Experience, The Mona Lisa Banquet Hall & Salon, which operates as an event space and a salon, and Inails; as well as the restaurant, Camy’s.
To date, EDGE has awarded $771,700 to 138 businesses throughout Memphis’s most vulnerable neighborhoods; 114 of those (83%) are minority- and women-owned businesses.
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.
