3 Tampa Bay Small Businesses Are Recovering Thanks To Verizon

TAMPA, FL — As part of Verizon's Super Bowl initiative, three small businesses in Tampa will receive complimentary Verizon 5G connectivity for a year.

Verizon's Small Business Partnership Program is partnering with three small business as part of its Super Bowl initiative to help recover from the coronavirus pandemic and grow.
In addition to getting high-speed connectivity, Shiso Crispy food truck, Prymel Elements graphics agency and Mastry’s Brewing Co. will receive various business technology products to aid in their recovery.

This is all tied to Verizon’s Small Business Partnership Program, where we are partnering with three Tampa-area small businesses," said Verizon in a press release. Verizon has equipped each of them with Verizon 5G connectivity and tailored technology solutions that they need to help accelerate their businesses amid the challenges caused by COVID-19.

“As the No. 1-voted food truck in Tampa Bay, I knew Shiso Crispy deserved the No. 1 network," said Ronicca Whaley, owner of Shiso Crispy. "During the height of the pandemic, I was consistently losing 2 or more transactions at my point of sale every shift due to poor network quality or dropped coverage, and to me this connectivity is money."

Based at 2570 20th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Shiso Crispy is known for its handmade Gyoza pot stickers; vegan truffle with garlic potato mash, house mozzarella, wild mushrooms, black truffle and house truffle cream; Bao buns topped with Shiso slaw and Gochujang aioli; and local Wagyu house-ground beef from Jackman Farms with house garlic kimchi and cheddar.

"Now with Verizon Business, I have access to reliable and quality 5G network devices and business technology that I never knew would have this impact," Whaley said. "When I began to use Verizon’s 5G smartphone and 5G MiFis for my food truck and trailer, we immediately saw the reliability for payments and the speed performance. And, this is night and day from before, so we can better connect to our customers and serve up content instantaneously. As I look ahead, I am excited to see how tools like Verizon Business’ One Talk and Local Works can help me become more efficient and reach more customers."

Founded by Matthew and Danie Dahm in 2014, Mastry's Brewing Co., 7701 Blind Pass Road, was the first craft brewery in St. Pete Beach.

It began as a brew-pub operating out of a family-owned restaurant and, in 2016, expanded to a full-size craft brewery with a tasting room featuring 15-plus rotating house brews, cider, hard seltzer and wine. However, when the pandemic struck, the brew house was completely shut down.

Likewise, self-made entrepreneurs Allysen Kerr and Djeneé Dunn worked hard to build up their women- and minority-owned business, Prymel Elements, a branding and consulting agency at 1925 E. 6th Ave., Suite 2, Tampa, only to have their creativity stunted when the pandemic was declared.

Helping the three small business is part of Verizon's work around the Super Bowl and beyond.
Verizon’s ongoing commitment to long-term small business recovery is highlighted through its work with local small businesses, a $10 million donation to small businesses nationwide and a benefit concert.

The Big Concert For Small Business will stream on Verizon's Twitter, TikTok, Twitch and YouTube channels along with Yahoo, Fios and iHeartRadio Sunday, Feb. 7 at 11 p.m., after the big game.
Hosted by Tiffany Haddish, the concert will feature Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Christina Aguilera, Eric Church, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Luke Bryan and Miley Cyrus.

Through the work of national nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation, proceeds from the concert along with Verizon's $10 million commitment will help support small business owners in historically underserved communities facing uncertainty amid the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

Additionally, Verizon is launching a customized multi-week training program to give businesses the tools and resources they need as part of its Citizen Verizon plan to help one million small business owners rebound and reimagine their future in the digital economy by 2030.