City Announces Scaling Up! South Bend Awardees

From the City of South Bend:

March 30, 2021

The City of South Bend today announced the 15 awardees to participate in a business training program paired with subsidized commercial space for product-based businesses.

“Small businesses lead the creation of new jobs in our community,” said Santiago Garces, Executive Director of the Department of Community Investment. “We are excited to support this creative and diverse cohort as they scale up.”

The Scaling Up! South Bend program will provide 3 months of business training for the recipients through 37 Oaks University and then subsidized commercial space at the Sibley Center, a multi-tenant business space, through the end of 2021.

The Department of Community Investment is partnering with 37 Oaks University to administer this program, which will focus on recruiting business owners who currently sell a product part- or full-time and want to strengthen their business model and scale up.

The 15 awardees are:

• All Over Creations- Michelle Blanford

Mobile bakery that caters to festivals, wedding and events

• Sugar Rush by Jessica- Jessica Galeano

Homemade treats dipped in chocolate

• Luna and Loki Design- Renee Michalski

Handcrafted genuine leather and vegan earrings

• Importin’ Joes Ethiopian Coffee- Joseph Luten

Local coffee roaster made with raw, green Ethiopian coffee beans

• Mixxture Beauty- Akesma McClown

Handmade, plant-based beauty and pet care products

• Junk to Jazz Wearable Art- Dorothy Carter

Upcycling and recycling home devore and wearable art

• Twisted Craft Junkies- Amanda Pennington

Handmade wooden home décor

• Kami P- Kamika Perry

Custom paints on canvas, metal or mixed media

• Oils of Natura LLC- Connie Crayton

All-natural, vegan skin and hair care products

• Pretty Lips by Sonya- Sonya Phillips

Lashes, lip gloss, body scrubs and more

• Chef John Ward BBQ Sauce &Seasonings- John Ward

Homemade sauces and spices

• Kelly’s Green Living- Kelly Hofferth

Creating art with botanicals and moss

• Sours Enterprises- Tom Sours

Custom and production textile assembly

• South Bend Print Shop- Brent Lacy

Custom screen printing

• Andrew Wilson Smith Sculpture Studio-Andrew Smith

Architectural Sculpture, Ornamental Art, Fine Art Sculpture in stone, cast stone, plaster, and other materials, also mosaic in stone or glass.

This press release was produced by the City of South Bend. The views expressed here are the author’s own.