Program helps small, minority-owned businesses get funding

Minority businesses in Maryland are getting a leg up on resources and capital through the “Level Up” program.Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, Candace Randall-Bell has found peace stirring up fragrances to create the perfect scented candle.”It kind of was a form of relaxation just being at home with family and not really knowing what was really going on at that time,” said Randall-Bell, the owner and founder of Candles by Candy.Since then, Randall-Bell has turned her candle-making hobby into a candle-making business. But being a first-time business owner comes with a learning curve. “You don’t have as many resources as larger businesses or connections or things like that, so it’s very important to have a resource go to where you know they believe in helping small businesses,” Randall-Bell told 11 News. The “Level Up” program is that resource for Randall-Bell and more than 4,000 other businesses across Maryland. Leaders with FSC First, a nonprofit small business lender, started the program two years ago to provide training, coaching, mentoring, networking opportunities, assistance with financial statements and access to capital. “We provide training about the business of doing business,” said Dawn Medley, the president and CEO of FSC First. “We find that small businesses are very good at their craft or their service, but when it comes to that back office, sometimes the understanding needs to be clearer and being able to understand how a lender is looking at those documents.”So far, Level Up has hosted more than 100 events to share resources.”We have found that many small businesses are not prepared to borrow, they haven’t had that training yet. So, we provide the training and then make sure they level up to a loan and can actually gain access to capital to expand their businesses,” Medley told 11 News.The resources have already helped Taji Kelly, who owns Vent Suite Massage and Spa in Laurel. “Having that resource is actually like having that community where you can go to any kind of build from each other, and so that’s very powerful to have because you learn and grow that way,” Kelly told 11 News.Randall-Bell already has growth on her mind as Level Up helps her with new strategies for marketing and pitching for capital. “We are definitely planning on expanding,” Randall-Bell told 11 News. “I would definitely like to open up a second store.”Level Up has several upcoming events for small business owners. For more information on events and how businesses can get involved, visit the following website.

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