FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 22, 2024
Contact: Edwina Kluender eakluender@gmail.com 617-888-5859
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New Bedford’s Brown Suga Stationery Awarded Power Forward Small Business Grant by NAACP, VistaPrint, and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation
Award recognizes Innovation in Stationery Artistry, one of 59 Black-owned small businesses selected in New England
NEW BEDFORD, MA – Brown Suga Stationery & Design, a start-up small business in New Bedford, Massachusetts, has been honored with a prestigious Power Forward Small Business grant, demonstrating its commitment to economic empowerment and creativity in the community.
As a recipient of the Power Forward Small Business Grant program, Brown Suga Stationery & Design joins the ranks of 59 Black-owned small businesses across New England selected for their innovative contributions. The program, a collaborative effort between VistaPrint, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, and the NAACP, aims to make a lasting impact by awarding transformative grants of $25,000 to businesses that show exceptional promise and dedication.
Jaden Teixeira, the founder of Brown Suga Stationery & Design, expressed her excitement about the grant and the opportunities it brings. “I am a young artist, mom, and entrepreneur. I have always had a love for stationery products, ranging from bookmarks to planners. One day I had a realization – ‘I love art, and I love stationery, so why not combine the two?’ From that day forward, I have poured my creativity into creating paper products, with the goal that they can be used and loved by many.”
In addition to the Power Forward Small Business grant, Brown Suga Stationery & Design proudly holds the distinction of being a New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC) NB100! recipient and a NBEDC/New Bedford Creative ARTnet recipient.
ARTnet is a new artist recovery and training network to help artists recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic by providing financial support, business planning support, training workshops, and access to a network of creative-entrepreneur peers.
NB100! Is a kick-starter grant program offered by the NBEDC to new businesses designed to promote entrepreneurship, grow local wealth, and strengthen community bonds. Jaden completed her technical assistance training for NB100! by participating in Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) South Coast.
These accolades reflect the business’s commitment to excellence in both economic development and artistic endeavors.
Brown Suga Stationery & Design operates with a mission to bring creativity back into the community through the innovative, picturesque products it displays. The paperie is dedicated to offering high-quality products that bring smiles and warm the hearts of those who receive their stationery.
Through the Power Forward Small Business grant, Brown Suga Stationery & Design will leverage opportunities to be featured on co-branded platforms and receive marketing and design resources from VistaPrint customized to their specific needs. This support is poised to power their business forward and contribute to the vibrant cultural and economic landscape of New Bedford.
About Brown Suga Stationery & Design
Brown Suga Stationery & Design is a New Bedford-based paperie. Founded by Jaden Teixeira, the business combines artistry and stationery to create innovative and picturesque products that aim to bring creativity back into the community. With a commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, Brown Suga Stationery & Design strives to warm hearts and bring smiles to those who receive their stationery products. Get a glimpse into the store at www.brwnsuga.co.
About Power Forward Small Business Grant
The Power Forward Small Business Grant program is a collaborative effort between VistaPrint, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, and the NAACP. With a combined commitment of $1,500,000, the program has awarded transformative grants of $25,000 to 59 Black-owned small businesses across New England. The initiative not only provides financial support but also offers opportunities for businesses to be featured on co-branded platforms and receive marketing and design resources tailored to their specific needs. To view all recipients in Round 4, visit www.nba.com/celtics/celtics-united/power-forward and Vistaprint’s press release www.vistaprint.com/news/power-forward-small-business-grant-round-4.
About New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC)
The NBEDC is a nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate and promote a transparent, credible, and business-friendly environment. The NBEDC works collaboratively with local, state, and federal partners to support creativity, sustainable job growth, and private sector investment benefiting the citizens of New Bedford. Grant and loan programs include NBForward for existing businesses, NB100! for new businesses, and grants through the New Bedford Creative program: ARTnet for individual artists, Wicked Cool Places for placemaking/placekeeping projects, and Art is Everywhere! for arts-based economic development. For details, visit www.nbedc.org.
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