Community News C
START-UP GRANTS AWARDED Community comes together for Pitch Night to support organizers and their ideas.
M ore than $25,000 was awarded to community event, activity, or program organizers at the Rochester Downtown Alliance’s Start-Up Event Grant Pitch Night Wednesday, January 11. Ten community organizers presented their ideas in a shark- tank style pitch competition to a panel of judges that included Tiffany Alexandria of Choo-Choo-ca-Chew (and a past Start-Up Event Grant recipient), Amber Bojji of Chez Bojji, Will Forsman of Café Steam
In a shark-tank style pitch competition, 10 organizations/people were award a Start-Up Grant.
and RDA board of director, Danielle Teal of Mayo Clinic, and D’Angelo Tines of Popus Gourmet Popcorn. Receiving Start-Up Event Grant funds are the following organizations/people for the below award amounts: • $5,000: The Rochester Thaw Music Festival by My Town My Music • $4,000: UTSAV by Indian Cultural Association of Minnesota • $4,000: Family Fun Day: Sensory Sensitive Saturday by Autism Resource Guide • $3,500: Celebrating East African Culture by Pamoja Women • $3,000: Rochester Battle of the Bands by Treedome • $2,750: YMCA Sound Bowl Meditation by Rochester YMCA • $1,500: Broadway Nurse: A Musical Reading by Sam Buchl • $1,500: Families in Motion by the Rochester Art Center • $1,500: Art Battle Minnesota by Crayon Kelly • $1,000: Songwriters in the Round by Pat Egan Music
“I think everyone who watched the pitches left inspired by the creativity and vision of our grant recipients. We can’t wait to see these ideas come to life throughout 2023,” said Holly Masek, RDA executive director. As a last-minute surprise contribution, Destination Medical Center allocated an additional $2,750, bringing their total in Start-Up Event Grant funds to $12,750. In all, $28,750 in Start-Up Event Grant funds from the RDA and DMC were awarded at Pitch Night. While it was first introduced in 2020 as part of that year’s grant, Pitch Night returned as part of the 2023 Start-Up Event Grant cycle to encourage community engagement. As in 2020, a People’s Choice Award was voted on by attendees to receive additional funding, which went to not one but two pitches this year. The Rochester Thaw Music Festival and Rochester Battle of the Bands were the recognized recipients of an additional $500 each.
Advantage Magazine | 27
February 2023
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