The Coramino Fund has awarded $200,000 total in grants to 20 small businesses across the Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Los Angeles regions, directing funding to entrepreneurs building and growing in under-resourced communities.<\/p>\n
The awardees include two Pasadena-based groups: Monarca Sol Collective and Scalp Sanctuary. Other awardees serve greater Los Angeles, including the San Gabriel Valley, like JMR Pool Pros.<\/p>\n
The fund is managed by the nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and seeded by Gran Coramino Tequila, a tequila founded by entrepreneur and comedian Kevin Hart and 11th-generation tequila master Juan Domingo Beckmann. To date, it has provided more than $1.7 million in funding to 170 businesses across the country.<\/p>\n
The Coramino Fund was launched in 2022 to aid small businesses operating in under-resourced communities to add jobs, expand their revenues, and serve their communities. It launched from the inception of Gran Coramino Tequila as a unifying ethos from both founders.<\/p>\n
Giving back has been part of Gran Coramino\u2019s DNA since day one. Built by Hart, one of the hardest-working names in entertainment, the tequila itself is a product of relentless craft and dedication. The fund exists to pour that same energy back into the communities and entrepreneurs who embody it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith each new round of grants, I get to see what these business owners are able to do with $10,000: invaluable equipment, new hires, more impact,\u201d Hart said. \u201cThese next 20 businesses aren\u2019t just serving Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston\u00a0<\/p>\n
and LA. They\u2019re holding those neighborhoods down. That\u2019s the kind of hard work this brand was made to support, and I\u2019m proud to welcome the next round of grantees into the Coramino Fund.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Coramino Fund\u2019s 2026 support is fueling businesses in manufacturing, the arts, education, health, food service and more. Owners are using their $10,000 grants to help fund the purchase of new equipment, expand their workforce and extend the reach of their products and services.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Region grant awardees include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bakla Baes, of Anaheim<\/p>\n
\u2022 Birrieria La Tapatia, of Los Angeles<\/p>\n
\u2022 JMR Pool Pros, of Monrovia<\/p>\n
\u2022 Monarca Sol Collective, of Pasadena<\/p>\n
\u2022 Scalp Sanctuary, of Pasadena<\/p>\n
\u2022 Postal Petals, of Los Angeles<\/p>\n
\u2022 Unison Men\u2019s Salon, of Los Angeles<\/p>\n
Beyond their economic impact, these businesses serve as anchors in their communities.<\/p>\n
In Los Angeles County, JMR Pool Pros\u2019 pool cleaning services played an essential role in disaster recovery for residents of the San Gabriel Valley Foothill Cities. Following the recent Los Angeles wildfires, many clients lost their homes, while others were forced to evacuate. During that time, the priority was supporting those families by helping restore their pools to safe conditions and providing some normalcy during a difficult time. Through involvement in a local pool service association, the business also helped provide services to community members who could not afford immediate maintenance, including caring for pools while families were displaced. In addition, the business regularly partners with Reyes\u2019 home church to support individuals facing financial hardship by offering discounted or complimentary services.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmall businesses are an essential part of the economic and social fabric of their communities,\u201d said Michael Pugh, president and CEO of LISC. \u201cAs such, it is crucial that they are properly funded and resourced. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud that LISC is partnering with Gran Coramino Tequila to help fuel small business growth and development in neighborhoods across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n