TD Bank Awards $4 Million to U.S. Nonprofit Organizations
TD Bank has announced the recipients of its 2024 TD Ready Challenge, awarding $4 million in grants to four U.S. nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting underserved small business owners. Each organization will receive $1 million to advance initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers for entrepreneurs in their communities. The grant recipients are Hot Bread Kitchen in New York City, PA CDFI Network in Pennsylvania, Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation in Florida, and Washington Area Community Investment fund in Washington D.C.
Hot Bread Kitchen’s ‘HBK Incubates’ program offers comprehensive support services to low-to-moderate income women of color in New York City, assisting them in launching and expanding their food businesses.
The PA CDFI Network’s ‘Drive Your Business’ initiative combines technology, education, coaching, and community collaboration to reduce barriers faced by underserved entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania.
The Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation’s ‘Empower Sustainability Focused Accelerator’ program employs innovative strategic planning and automation tools to foster sustainable growth among small minority-owned businesses in Florida.
WACIF’s ‘Resilient Futures: Small Business Financial Wellness and Wealth Building Program’ introduces a novel financial product paired with specialized support tailored to entrepreneurs facing challenging financial situations in the Washington D.C. area.
The 2024 TD Ready Challenge underscores TD Bank’s commitment to investing in income stability by supporting training and skill-building for small business owners and entrepreneurs, continuing its tradition of addressing critical community issues through targeted grants.
Learn more here: TD Awards $4 Million to U.S. Nonprofit Organizations Supporting Small Business Owners
Porter Airlines Expands VIPorter Loyalty Program
Porter Airlines has expanded its VIPorter loyalty program, allowing members to redeem points for flights with partner airlines Air Transat and Alaska Airlines. This enhancement introduces over 2,000 new redemption routes, making a significant development in Porter’s collaborations with these carriers.
Air Transat offers 1,270 itineraries connecting 56 destinations across 28 countries, including North America, Europe, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. Alaska Airlines provides 1,020 connections, linking Canadian cities to various U.S. destinations. Redemption journeys start at 25,000 points to Europe via Air Transat, 21,500 points to the Caribbean, and 9,500 points to the U.S. with Alaska Airlines.
Flight redemptions can be made exclusively through flyporter.com and Porter’s contact center. Additionally, the upcoming launch of the BMO VIPorter Mastercard lineup this spring will enable cardholders to earn more points through everyday spending, facilitating faster access to reward travel.
Learn more here: VIPorter Members Can Now Redeem Points for Flights With Air Transat and Alaska Airlines
Marco’s Pizza Launches New Franchise Development Royalty Incentive Program
Marco’s Pizza has introduced a new Franchise Development Royalty Incentive Program aimed at supporting aspiring multi-unit franchise owners by offering phased royalty reductions, starting at 0%. This initiative addresses economic challenges such as inflation and rising minimum wage rates, facilitating entrepreneur’s entry into the pizza franchise business.
The program offers a structured royalty fee schedule for franchises who sign agreements for three to five locations. For the first six months after each store’s opening, franchisees will pay 0% in royalty fees. This increases to 2.5% from months seven to eighteen, and after 18 months, it reaches to standard royalty fee. This gradual increase allows franchisees to reinvest in their businesses during the critical early stages.
Marco’s Pizza is also enhancing its development support system by providing resources in real estate, construction management, field operations, and financing information. These efforts align with the company’s goal of fostering entrepreneurship and expanding its presence, with plans to reach 1,500 units by the end of 2023.
Learn more here: Marco's Pizza Rolls Out Franchise Development Incentive Program with 0% Royalties to Start*