Cornerstone Alliance
38 W. Wall Steet, P.O. Box 428
Benton Harbor, MI 49023-0428
269.925.6100
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SBA PRIME GRANT RECEIVED

Cornerstone Alliance President Wendy Dant Chesser announced today that Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services has been awarded Small Business Administration (SBA) grant funding under the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act (PRIME) to assist low-income and very low-income entrepreneurs with training and technical assistance to start, operate, and grow their businesses. The $75,000 grant was awarded on September 29, 2009 and is a year-long grant that can be renewed based upon performance.

Cornerstone Alliance Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Vaughn said, "We are very pleased that the SBA recognizes the track record of Small Business Services and continues providing funding assistance to our entrepreneurial and small business development programs and services. PRIME joins the SBA Microloan program and the Women's Business Center as programs and services offered by our organization to area entrepreneurs."

“The SBA remains committed to helping small businesses start, grow and succeed, and PRIME is one of our many tools for doing this,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “These grant recipients are on the front line of helping entrepreneurs in particularly underserved communities with critical tools to help them maximize the potential of their businesses, create jobs and help strengthen the local economy.”
"Since, the change in our nation's economy we have seen an increase number of entrepreneurs interested in starting their own businesses. This additional funding will truly enhance our team's capability to meet the various levels of needs that exist in our area" added Vaughn.

The SBA’s PRIME grant funding is intended to establish management and technical assistance, access to capital and other forms of financial assistance, and business training and counseling through qualified organizations, like Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services, to small businesses with five or fewer employees that are economically disadvantaged, and to businesses owned by low-income individuals, including those residing on Indian reservations and tribal lands.

For additional information, please contact Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services at 269-925-6100 or toll-free at 1-866-477-9922.