Veterans Business Support Coalition, Rio Rancho Community Foundation Award Small Business Grants to Local Veteran-Owned Businesses

The Veterans Business Support Coalition (VBSC) and the Rio Rancho Community Foundation (RRCF) announced Monday that they have teamed up to award small business grants to two local veteran-owned businesses: Popped Candy, and Tanta Solutions and Acquisitions Incorporated.

The grant award presentation will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 25 during the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Saturday Artisan Show at Enchanted Hills Plaza, 3575 NM 528.

The grants were awarded through the VBSC and RRCF’s joint veterans small business grant program, which provides financial assistance to veteran-owned businesses in Central New Mexico. The program is designed to help these businesses grow and create jobs in the community.

“We are proud to partner with the Rio Rancho Community Foundation to support our local veteran-owned businesses,” said Dr. Stacey Goldstein-Dwyer, chair of the VBSC. “These businesses are an important part of our community, and we are committed to helping them succeed.”

The VBSC and RRCF received several applications for the small business grant program, and the two businesses were selected based on their potential for growth, their commitment to the community and their need for financial assistance.

“We are pleased to be able to provide these grants to such deserving businesses,” said Jerry Schalow, executive director of the RRCF. “We believe that these businesses will make a significant contribution to our community.”

Popped Candy is a veteran-owned and operated candy company that offers a variety of dehydrated candies.

“We are so grateful for this grant,” said Catherine Frost, owner of Popped Candy. “This will allow us to acquire better equipment, packaging and resources to take our business to the next level.”

Tanta Solutions and Acquisitions Incorporated is a veteran-owned training and development management firm that provides training platforms for a wide range of businesses.

“This grant is a game-changer for our business,” said Jon Edwards, owner of Tanta Solutions and Acquisitions Incorporated. “We will be able to expand our marketing efforts to grow our client base.”

The two businesses will each receive a grant of $1,500, which will be used to purchase new equipment, hire additional employees and expand marketing efforts.

The Veterans Business Support Coalition is an affiliate organization of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce that provides resources and support to businesses in Rio Rancho, Sandoval County and Albuquerque. The Rio Rancho Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of people in Rio Rancho and Sandoval County. The RRCF provides grants to local nonprofit organizations and supports a variety of community initiatives.