Verizon Commits $10 Million to Help One Million Small Businesses

Verizon has announced it is committing $10 million to help up to one million small business through grants.

Small businesses have born the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. Without the deep pockets and resilience of large companies, many small businesses have had to shut their doors. This is especially true of brick-and-mortar businesses that have been heavily impacted by stay-at-home orders.

Verizon is working to help offset the challenges small businesses are facing, committing $10 million in grants through LISC, a national nonprofit organization.

“For small business owners today, we know that opening a digital front door is as important as a physical one,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “This multi-year effort underscores the role financial assistance, technology and training will play in rebuilding small businesses for both short-term and long-term economic recovery.”

The company is using Super Bowl LV as its kick-off event, with The Big Concert for Small Business after the game. The event will be hosted by Tiffany Haddish, and feature Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Christina Aguilera, Eric Church, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Luke Bryan and Miley Cyrus. The concert will be live-streamed on Twitch, Yahoo, YouTube, as well as broadcast on several networks.

“Small businesses are so important and we need to do whatever we can to keep them alive; our communities can’t recover without them,” said Alicia Keys. “I’m excited to be partnering with Verizon and the rest of these amazing artists to not only be able to take the stage and bring that good music and light but to do it for such a meaningful cause.”