Small Business Committee - September 2025

Committee Members: Mayor Diana Nelson, chair. Council members Mark Haake and Joy Bennett

Community Impact Award

• Staff confirmed that our 3 finalists would participate in the Heritage Parade. Our finalists were:

  • The MADE HUB for Manufacturing

  • The Mason Symphony Orchestra

  • Creative Contracting

• We agreed to announce the winner at the Mason Heritage Festival and decided to do so before School of Rock’s band begins playing their set. 

• The Small Business Committee members will present the awards to each of the finalists. Mayor Nelson will introduce, then Mark and Joy will give out finalists' awards and Mayor will give out the winner’s award

• Joy suggested the city create a logo for the award winners to use in the video that is part of their award. The goal is to promote our local small businesses, and she mentioned the “Best places to work” ribbons many businesses will display each year. 

• The finalist will get vouchers to DigIN Strategies for video promo: the finalists receive  $500 and the winner $1,000

• We agreed to ask Jeff to contribute something more to the award - perhaps a discount or promo in the publication he created

Duke Small Business Grant

• Mostly being handled by Duke Energy and administered by the Warren County Foundation

• so Mayor Nelson has very little info

• Small businesses can apply through September 30

  • Grants of up to $5,000 to support a small business.

  • Applicants must be Duke Energy customers and have fewer than 50 employees

  • Applications will be reviewed by representatives from the City of Mason, the MADE Chamber, the Small Business Development Center, and the Warren County Foundation.

  • Applications must be submitted by September 30, 2025.

• Apply for the grant here!

Small Business Saturday

• The city has hired a Santa for the downtown area, coordinating with the chamber on additional activities