LET’S TALK: “Chamber of Commerce Opportunity For All Program”
Melanie Lavender, Opportunity For All (OFA) program manager is making a significant impact on the small business world in Manatee and Sarasota communities. Melanie a native of Sarasota seized the opportunity to give back to the community through the OFA program.
The OFA program is a two-part for-profit and nonprofit small business grant and a summer internship program.
It operates out of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. The program is funded by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. It is designed to help small minority-owned businesses and nonprofits by aiding with working capital and a summer internship program that matches students with small business owners.
A total of thirteen small businesses and nonprofits gathered on Monday evening November 25th
to celebrate being selected as a recipient of this year’s Opportunity For All grant. The 2025 recipients are “Fashion And Beauty Boutique, Flourishing, Greatness Beyond Measure, Inc., Humble Hearts Caregivers, JD Wms Diversity Group LLC, Kinsey5Media, Little Medical School Suncoast, New College Child Center, One Head At A Time, I n c . , P arty Popping Events LLC, Phatheadz Barbershop, SaliorGirl Transport LLC, and The Bradenton Gladiators Football, Inc.”
The grantees celebration award dinner was held at the famous Chaz 51 Steakhouse located at 549 US-41 Bypass, Venice FL, owned by Chef Charles Amherst a native of Haiti. Keynote speaker, Chris Williams, Managing Director of Aginto a video and social media group delivered a compelling and inspiring speech on overcoming challenges during tough times.
Grants like the OFA grant provides the opportunity for a small business or nonprofit to develop, scale, and grow their product or service. Being a small business owner is not easy. The thirteen small businesses selected demonstrates that building a successful business requires an innovative idea, a strong work ethic, determination, and community support, exemplified by Melanie Lavender and the OFA office.
Congratulations to the Opportunity For All 2025 grant recipients!!!!!!!
“All ideas are great to the creator, but it takes a business mind to mold it into a need or want for the consumer…. embrace change.” Judith Williams
“We Do Better When We Work Together.”
