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Valour Cobbins, owner of the Bread and Butter Shoppe in Greenwood, Mississippi, stumbled upon the Coalition to Back Black Business grant on Facebook. Despite not being a regular social media user, she was drawn to the opportunity after seeing it numerous times in her feed. The application process was straightforward compared to others she had filled out previously. The Bread and Butter Shoppe serves freshly made sandwiches, wraps, salads, smoothies, and other wellness products redefining soul food. Cobbins used to be a winemaker and came across a building in Greenwood that used to be a winery, which she bought and planned to reopen. However, the Bread and Butter Shoppe was born, and the grant kept the business afloat during the pandemic. Cobbins used the $5,000 to pay off the restaurant’s lease. Optimum and Altice USA partnered with the Coalition in 2023 to help provide resources and funding for businesses affected by the pandemic. The grant program has been likened to the show “Shark Tank,” where industry titans advise entrepreneurs and provide feedback. Tonya Franklin of Upscale Properties in Greenville, Mississippi, also found out about the grant on Facebook and was shocked to be selected. Her $5,000 grant allowed her to hire back an employee she previously had to let go due to pandemic financial constraints. Franklin’s business provides affordable and quality housing for the area’s residents, including those experiencing homelessness or facing lifelong illnesses. Additionally, she works with nonprofit agencies to provide housing for veterans. The grant program has provided invaluable coaching to entrepreneurs to identify their customer base and tighten their pitches. Grant recipients have expressed gratitude to the companies for rallying in to help small businesses during the pandemic, particularly in rural areas that were the hardest hit.
