Seven Valley women were recently selected as winners of the ninth annual Women in Networking (WIN) Entrepreneurial Grant program. The WIN grant is a named fund with the Valley Community Foundation.
WIN is one of four leads groups affiliated with the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce (GVCC).
The grant recipients are:
- Renee Jackson, owner of Freckled Frosting, $700;
- Jacqueline Yannes, owner of Kokopelli School of Music and Arts, LLC, $1,000
- JoElle Anderson, owner of Dragonflies, LLC with WBDC Scholarship; Cheryl Shain, owner of Zanni Ani Organic Snacks, LLC, $1,000
- Kelly Humiston, owner of New Leaf Organizing Service, $550
- Bonnie Fredericks, Retreat Contempo Salon, $900
- Kimberly Dulka, The All-American Valley General Store, LLC, $1,500.
All seven winners were presented with grants during the holiday luncheon of the WIN group on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 1757 Tavern in Seymour.
The grant is distributed from funds received from WIN membership dues and fundraisers organized by the group.
This past fall, WIN’s Appletini Harvest at Inn Villa Blanca raised over $9,000 and was chaired by Debi Molfese of Silpada and Felicia Hudson of Courtyard by Marriott.
The grant recipients will utilize the grant in different ways.
Freckled Frosting in Oxford will purchase cooking supplies and equipment.
Kokopelli School of Music and Arts, LLC in Seymour will be able to complete filing for non-profit status.
Dragonflies, LLC in Seymour will obtain a scholarship for the WBDC FastTrak program.
Zanni Ani Organiz Snacks, LLC in Oxford will be able to acquire new equipment.
New Leaf Organization Service in Shelton will pay course fees for Professional Organizer Certification.
Retreat Contempo Salon in Oxford will implement industry specific software.
The All-American Valley General Store, LLC in Seymour will acquire a kitchen instillation.
“We are pleased to continue the legacy of awarding annual grants to well-qualified entrepreneurial women in the Valley,” said Jennifer Bull, Chair of the WIN Group and principal at Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte & Sterczala, PC in Shelton “During these difficult economic times, we are pleased to offer over $6,000 in grants in encourage economic development in the Valley.”
Sharon Massafra, franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care and independent consultant with Arbonne International, chaired the grant selections committee.This grant-in-aid program provides financial assistance to women 18 years or age or older in the Greater Valley area in the towns of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton.
The WIN grant can be used for expenses to enhance the applicant’s current business or to start a new business. These expenses may include: equipment, tuition, books, transportation, business wardrobe or childcare necessary to reach the applicant’s career goals.
Recipients are also invited to a complimentary one-year membership to the WIN Group.
Applicants are evaluated on a nondiscriminatory basis without consideration of race, national origin, religious affiliation or disability.
The minimum one-time grant is $500. Greater amounts may be awarded according to individual needs and funds available. Since its inception, WIN has donated more than $31,000 to 28 grant recipients.
WIN is the first group of its kind to service the six-town region of the Greater Valley.
Founded in 2002, the group was formed by a successful group of businesswomen who meet to discuss common issues. Meetings are conducted on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. These meetings are either held at the GVCC office or off-site at a Chamber member location. Social and educational events are also scheduled throughout the year.
For more information, please call the GVCC at (203) 925‑4981 or visit www.greatervalleychamber.com for more information about joining the Chamber and WIN.