Micro Plant Studio earns SPACE Grant
South Boston’s Micro Plant Studio was one of 24 small businesses to receive American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding through the Supporting Pandemic Affected Community Enterprises (SPACE) Grant, which will help owners expand their businesses and move into vacant storefronts citywide.
Photos Courtesy the City of Boston Mayor’s Office
South Boston’s Micro Plant Studio was one of 24 small businesses to receive American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding through the Supporting Pandemic Affected Community Enterprises (SPACE) Grant, which will help owners expand their businesses and move into vacant storefronts citywide.
Mayor Michelle Wu announced the winners at a ceremony on Wednesday, July 26. This first round of SPACE Grants will distribute $2,830,000 in an effort to bring more foot traffic into major commercial districts, revitalize Boston’s downtown, bring vibrancy to city neighborhoods, and close the racial wealth gap. Of the businesses receiving grants, 75 percent are minority-owned and more than 60 percent are women-owned.
“Thank you for acknowledging the long hours that we invest in our business but also the value that we bring to Boston,” said Micro Plant Studio founder Julio Cesar Roman. “The fact is when small businesses open in a neighborhood, it increases our sense of community and safety, creates jobs, and brings up real-estate values. It's a win for all.”
Micro Plant Studio, located at 365 W. Broadway, is the first Latinx plant store in New England and the first plant business that 3D designs and prints pots and vases, Julio said. In 2018, he officially opened his first location in Southie. The shop sells plants, pots, and flowers; facilitates workshops; provides personalized plant services; and creates elaborate window displays that brighten the neighborhood.
“But most importantly, we bring smiles to people’s faces and we are connected to the community,” Julio said. “The future of Micro Plant Studio is even brighter thanks to this grant.”
The grant will fund the opening of a second location with expanded hours, Julio said. The new location will be much bigger and house a 3D lab, plant bar, green room, and outdoor space in addition to creating jobs.
This grant will provide Julio with an opportunity to redefine the traditional retail experience for customers and what a plant business could be — a maker space where people can explore their artistic side while connecting with people with similar interests.
In addition to the grant, the city is providing each business with wrap-around services to assist with lease negotiation, accounting, taxes, regulatory compliance, marketing, and employee-ownership to ensure long-term success. The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), are also offering free one-year memberships to their organizations.
“The SPACE Grant program connects entrepreneurs with the extra capital and technical assistance they need to be vibrant, successful additions to our downtown and our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “These first 24 recipients each have an incredible story of entrepreneurship, from immigrants sharing their culture through food, to daycares filling a need seen in many of our communities. This program at its core is a win-win for Boston, filling vacant storefronts while helping our small businesses thrive.”
Julio is grateful for the support. “Thank you to the city of Boston for intentionally investing in small businesses like mine and supporting our dreams. Together, we will build a vibrant and greener Boston for all.”
MW Hair Carbon Neutral Certified
MW Hair Studio is making a difference.
Known for their exceptional hairstyling skills, Lisa Walsh and Nikki McCart have also made a name for themselves through their commitment to environmental sustainability.
Lisa Walsh (left) and Nikki McCart
MW Hair Studio is making a difference.
Known for their exceptional hairstyling skills, Lisa Walsh and Nikki McCart have also made a name for themselves through their commitment to environmental sustainability.
Lisa and Nikki were recently awarded a Carbon Neutral Certificate. Being carbon neutral means that the amount they have recycled has offset the amount of electricity they’ve consumed, considering their square footage. The duo recycles everything from foils, single-use items like gloves and plastic caps, metal color tubes, and the color itself.
“The hair color they take back to make renewable energy," Lisa said. “We've created more renewable energy by recycling than we've put out.”
MW Hair Studio has partnered with Green Circle Salons, which provides recycling services to salons across the country. Nikki and Lisa have separate bins for different types of recyclables, and Green Circle provides bags and boxes every month to ensure that everything gets recycled properly.
The hairstylists encourage clients to participate in their sustainability efforts. When clients purchase Kevin Murphy products, MW Hair incentivizes them to bring back the bottles for recycling and offers a 25 percent discount on their next purchase.
Lisa and Nikki realized that local single-stream recycling doesn’t accept excess color waste or many other items they use. “We found this company through our distributor and we really liked their whole mission and how easy they make it,” Lisa said. “It was totally a no-brainer. Let's just start here and see how much of an impact that makes.”
The duo noted that when excess color is poured down the sink, it enters the waste system, making it challenging for treatment plants to remove. Green Circle takes the excess color and uses it to create renewable energy.
Love and Mercy, another South Boston salon, also participates in the program. “It’s nice to see other salons doing this," Nikki said.
Meet PKL
Community is vital to Katie Coakley, one of the owners of PKL Boston, 64 C St., so joining the South Boston Chamber of Commerce was a no-brainer.
“I just wanted to be able to connect with some of the other business owners and share what's been working for us and hear what's been working for them and what hasn't been working. We're kind of all in this together.”
Community is vital to Katie Coakley, one of the owners of PKL Boston, 64 C St., so joining the South Boston Chamber of Commerce was a no-brainer.
“I just wanted to be able to connect with some of the other business owners and share what's been working for us and hear what's been working for them and what hasn't been working. We're kind of all in this together.”
PKL has been doing outreach to local businesses. For an ‘80s prom event on New Year’s Eve, PKL reached out to Bohdii to do some looks. For Galentine's Day, they reached out to LoveChild, who did a floral workshop. For a Wine by Women event, In Good Co. was on hand. Castle Island Brewing created a beer for PKL.
“So we've been kind of trying to reach out and spark some of those conversations, work with other businesses,” Katie said. “There's just so many talented business owners and entrepreneurs in South Boston. Any chance I can get to partner with people and support other people, it's a no-brainer.”
Welcome to the Chamber, PKL!
To read a story about PKL, visit https://southbostononline.com/pkl/.
Micro Plant Studio wins grant
Julio César Román, owner and founder of Micro Plant Studio, has hired a studio assistant and is expanding his hours thanks to a grant award.
Julio César Román, owner and founder of Micro Plant Studio, has hired a studio assistant and is expanding his hours thanks to a grant award.
For the past five years, Julio has worked the shop at 365 W. Broadway by himself seven days a week. Now he has Emerson Joseph-Ferrara helping out.
Fifty Black- and Latinx-owned small businesses around the country received $10,000 grants from The Coramino Fund, a grant program of LISC and Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino® Tequila. Julio was one of two recipients in Massachusetts.
“Black and Latinx entrepreneurs have historically lacked access to financial resources and learning opportunities, restricting their businesses' ability to expand and thrive,” said Lisa Glover, CEO of LISC. “This impactful partnership provides vital resources to an exceptional group of small business owners around the country, who in turn support our local communities.”
Julio was shocked – and thrilled – to get the grant. Emerson is happy Julio finally has someone on board. Running an entire business for five years alone and being open seven days a week … “I don’t know how he's done it.
“A lot of his regulars say they’re so happy that he finally has support.”
And that support comes in the form of the perfect candidate, Julio said. Emerson grew up and still lives in South Boston. She loves plants and art, two of Julio’s passions. And she is a quick learner.
“We’re very lucky to have her,” Julio said.
“Being a part of a business that is in my hometown is really important,” said Emerson, who works in the mornings.
The 24-year-old daughter of Fred Ferrara and Alexis Joseph-Ferrara has always loved art, creating, and working with her hands. Her passion for plants was instilled in her by her dad. “Growing up, we used to always be in the garden,” she said, noting their house on West Fourth Street actually has a decent-sized yard. She just recently cleaned up the garden beds to get ready for spring.
She came into the job with a lot of plant knowledge, but Julio has taught her an amazing amount. “My knowledge has expanded greatly,” she said.
“Being [at Micro Plant Studio] really combined my passion for plants with art,” she said. Her duties include repotting plants, pruning, maintenance, sharing plant care information with customers, collaborating with Julio, and just creating beauty.
“She has been awesome,” Julio said, noting that not only does Emerson appreciate plants for plants’ sake, she also looks at the beauty of them.
Julio and Emerson use their arts backgrounds and love for all things green and colorful to help customers connect potted and unpotted plants and floral arrangements with the aesthetics of their spaces. Emerson enjoys helping customers find the perfect plant to best suit their lifestyle, taste, and space.
Emerson had been in the restaurant industry for about 10 years and knew it was time to do something else. She did some soul searching to figure out what she was most passionate about …and that was plants. Almost serendipitously, she saw that Micro Plant Studio, a member of the South Boston Chamber of Commerce, was hiring.
Emerson had been in the store before. “I loved it. I loved the atmosphere. I thought I’d be a great fit.”
She is thrilled she has the chance to share her passion and Julio’s passion with the community and grow the business at the same time.
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