Total of $100,000 distributed to Colorado small businesses
The love for small Colorado businesses just keeps coming from Ent Credit Union. In a surprise second round of its We ♥ Small Business Giveaway, Ent Credit Union awarded another $50,000 to 10 additional businesses that includes two in Northern Colorado, Butter Cream Cupcakery in Fort Collins and Kersey Gathering Grounds in Kersey. Each winner receives $5,000. That now brings the total to $100,000 that Ent Credit Union has distributed to small businesses through this program.
The We ♥ Small Business Giveaway was developed to assist small businesses throughout Colorado get through the financial hardship brought on by COVID-19.
“We were deeply moved by the incredible number of nominated small businesses and the passionate outreach of the fans that nominated them. There were so many worthy businesses, we decided we had to do more to help relieve the effects of the pandemic,” said Jennifer Sussman, Ent Credit Union Chief Marketing Officer. “This surprise giveaway of an additional $50,000 will help support the economic backbone of our communities – small, independent businesses.”
Northern Colorado winner, Butter Cream Cupcakery, is family owned with two retail locations in Fort Collins. The small business uses quality ingredients and service to bring delicious cupcakes to the community. The owners were overjoyed to receive the help. “We can’t thank you and Ent Credit Union enough! Being a local, family owned
small business, this helps in giving us a fighting chance to navigate through these trying times,” said co-owner of Butter Cream Cupcakery, Cassidy Montoya. “We also want to thank our valued customers for their support.”
Kersey Gathering Grounds is the second winner from Northern Colorado. Opened in 2019, this shop not only serves coffees and smoothies to the community, but their menu also includes sandwiches, salads, pastries and more.
The complete list of 10 second round winners, selected by Ent staff, that will receive $5,000 are:
- Kersey Gathering Grounds – Kersey
- Butter Cream Cupcakery – Fort Collins
- Yellowdog Design | Print | Marketing – Denver
- High Ride Cycle – Denver
- Uncorked Kitchen & Wine Bar – Centennial
- Meeker Music – Colorado Springs
- Rush Café – Rush
- Pueblo Baseball Mill – Pueblo
- Chaos Games and More – Pueblo
- Ahavah Farm – Peyton
During the first round of the giveaway, Ent invited Coloradans to nominate their favorite independent, Front Range small business on Facebook. Businesses were also encouraged to self-nominate. Twenty semi-finalists were randomly selected from the more than 11,000 nominations. A panel of Ent judges then selected four finalists for public vote. Prizes were awarded May 5, per online vote totals to:
- $20,000 – First place to CityROCK, Colorado Springs
- $15,000 – Second place to El Taco Rey, Colorado Springs
- $10,000 – Third place to Sanko LLC Custom Woodworking, Denver
- $5,000 – Fourth place to SoCo Escape Room, Pueblo
In addition to the giveaway, via its Member Relief Programs, Ent has provided more than $1.4 million in increased business line of credit support and deferred loan payments on business loans totaling $89 million.
Additional #weheartsmallbusiness sweepstakes information and rules are available at Ent.com/welovesmallbusiness.
About Ent’s COVID-19 Member Relief Programs Please visit Ent.com/Coronavirus.
About Ent’s $250,000 Emergency COVID-19 Donations Please visit our press release page.
About Ent Founded in 1957, for the second consecutive year Ent is ranked Colorado’s #1 credit union by Forbes. A different kind of financial institution, Ent is committed to improving members’ financial quality of life with better rates, lower fees and Ent Extras® Cash Rewards. With $6+ billion in assets, Ent serves more than 370,000 members at more than 35 convenient service centers all along the Front Range. Businesses and people (who live, work, worship or attend school) in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Jefferson, Larimer, Pueblo, Teller and Weld counties may join the not-for-profit financial, community-chartered credit union. Ent is an Equal Housing Opportunity and Equal Opportunity Lender, insured by the NCUA