Application Steps: The basic application and supporting documentation must be submitted through an online portal by 5 p.m. on April 24, 2023. Businesses that meet all criteria will be contacted to sign up for the required RAISE-UP training program. Applicants must apply for the grant program by submitting the application online through the SBDC portal.
The SBDC will develop and manage the online portal for application submission. The online portal will support submission electronically in English, unless otherwise requested. The online application page can also be supported by other webpages hosted on the SBDC website, which explain the program, eligibility, requirements, contain FAQs, and contact information. These pages can be developed in conjunction with the city as requested and appropriate. The online portal is hosted on a secure server whereas any application data can only be accessed with login credentials residing with the SBDC. Any additional documentation required from business owners can also be submitted via the online portal or via a secure, SBDC file transfer service.
If the SBDC determines that additional information or supporting documents are needed to review a basic application, then the application is not considered complete.
Training Program: Approved applicants are required to participate in the “Raise-UP” (Restaurant Assistance for Increased Sales and Efficiency-Upland Grant Program) Training, a four-week training program, beginning April 27, 2023. Participants must attend and complete all four business assistance modules (approximately 10 hours total) to qualify for the funding. See program outline below:
Program Outline:
The Raise-UP training program covers the following topics with a focus on building growth strategies for your food operations:
Week 1: Plan to Grow Your Food Business — Every business faces a series of challenges on its path to growth. This module covers a variety of successful approaches to growth. You will find out how to grow your business as you learn about successful growth opportunities, identify failure in growth and pitfalls to avoid, and take actions setting your growth plan as aligned with your vision. Are you ready to grow?
Week 2: Manage Your Cash — Cash is king. But the question is: cash for growth or growth for cash? To grow your food business, you need to maintain adequate cash flow. In this module, you will understand your numbers through your P&L and build your financial projection to support your growth plan. This class will teach you how to accurately project growth, model it, and stress test it to make sure capital will work effectively with your growth plan. Numbers do not lie!
Week 3: Grow Your Customer Base — There is only one boss: CUSTOMERS! Growth in your food business is all about attracting new customers and/or expanding what your existing customers are buying from you. This module will take your growth plan and help you focus your efforts on bettering the outcomes of your current marketing and sales efforts, defining your target areas that you are trying to reach, and developing a strategy to grow your customer base.
Week 4: Develop Your People — In this module, you will learn actionable steps you can take to assess and develop your human capital talent into a formidable all-star force for your food business. Utilizing individual skill sets and training to personal strengths, ensures all individuals are functioning within the overall team at their highest and best use, creating a competitive edge not easily duplicated.
This program is offered through four (4) mandatory Zoom group sessions. Participants will get the opportunity to be assigned to one of our food-based business consultants, through no-cost 1:1 consulting sessions, to assist with the development of their growth plans.