Small business owners who received capacity-building grants from the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, program partners, and friends celebrated at an event on May 21 in Manchester.
Manchester, NH —The NH Community Loan Fund awarded 37 entrepreneurs from across NH with capacity-building grants totaling $100,000 on May 21 as part of the Community-Driven Economic Empowerment (C-DEE) program. The program helps small business owners become financially resilient and self-sufficient. The program has awarded nearly $230,000 in funding to 88 small business owners since 2022.
The 2025 awardees, representing nine NH counties and 11 industries—including farms, early childhood education, restaurants, and retail stores—employ 150 people.
“The 37 small business owners who received Community-Driven Economic Empowerment grants this year are visionaries, builders, and believers who dared to plant seeds of change — in their communities, in their businesses, and in themselves,” says Latonya Wallace, director of small business engagement at the Community Loan Fund. “Together with our partners, the Community Loan Fund is proud to connect local businesses with the financing and coaching they need to grow and thrive.”
This year, businesses could apply for up to $5,000 in funding. The grants can be used for computer hardware and software; professional services, including legal consultation and bookkeeping; marketing, including website design; and business coaching or consulting. The C-DEE program's Community Business Advisory Council, comprising business owners and community leaders, determines the funding recipients.
The Community-Driven Economic Empowerment program, which serves entrepreneurs statewide, is a partnership of the NH Community Loan Fund, Manchester NAACP, Business Alliance for People of Color, and Start.coop. The Small Business Development Center provides no-cost coaching to all the applicants and Sheehan Phinney offers legal services to select awardees on a pro-bono basis.
Full list of recipients by town:
Bristol: Janice Synder, Stay Rooted LLC.
Brookline: Robert Waite, Averill House Vineyard LLC.
Concord: Deborah Casselberry, Arnie’s Place; Tyler Fish, Concord Clothworks; Victoria Carrington, Lilac and Aspen; and Greg and Amber Pollock, Sunfox Farms.
Dover: John Moro, The Herbal Path.
Grantham: Alexa Santti, Closet Treasures LLC.
Hanover: Gissoneida De Jesus, Fluffy Love Grooming Salon LLC.
Lyme: Conicia Jackson, 3 Generations Wealth Group.
Manchester: Peter Zagabe, Afro Fusion Lounge LLC; Tochukwu Nwoke, BridgeGap Learning Resources; Veronique Llunga, Heavenly Touch Salon; Webster Marfo, HP Network; Christy Olorunfemi, J-Nissa Learning Center; George Jumpp, Jumpp Chiropractic; Niclette Okutubo, Kimia Support Services LLC; Esther Kandosi, La Bonne Semence; Angelique Ipomo, La Reference; Kerri Dutton, LNA Health Careers; Biram Saidybah, Manchester Child Care Center; Alexandru Anghel, Mokse Educational Services; Mya Figueroa, Mondo Artem LLC; Nelida Arellano, Neli’s LLC; and Alexander Paul, Robot Graves.
Moultonborough: Danielle Weeks, Elevate Landscaping LLC; and Ashely Rand, Through the Pines Photography.
Nashua: Tiffany Smith, Lushes Leaves by Lulu; Jacqueline O'Shea, Magic Lantern Memories; Jose Elias, Rice and Beans 603; and Narendra Sharma, Trinity Bridge Professional Services.
Rochester: Jessica Reidy, Jezmina Von Thiele
Salem: Mohamad Chatila, Chatila's Bakery LLC
Sullivan: Megan Lafaso Hercher, Sullivan Country Store
Whitefield: Doug Morin, Tellman Hill Farm
Wilmot: Andal Sundaramurthy, Nall Farm
Wolfeboro Falls: Sandra Bullis, Island Glow Beauty