EPIC Students Awarded Business Grants to Launch and Grow Entrepreneurial Dreams

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and thriving in South Baldwin!

The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation is proud to celebrate this year’s EPIC grant recipients — outstanding student entrepreneurs who were awarded funding to help launch or enhance their growing businesses through the purchase of essential materials, equipment, licensing, and business needs.

This year, a total of $3,600 in business grants was awarded to students who successfully completed the EPIC program and submitted grant applications outlining how the funding would help move their businesses forward.

The annual grant presentation takes place in conjunction with the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event hosted by Cadence Bank, providing students with a unique opportunity not only to receive their awards but also to showcase their businesses and connect with real business leaders and professionals from across the community.

This year’s grant recipients included:

• Kaleb Bauchamp — Mashed Potato Productions

• Kenadae Davis — Ken Kay Design

• Allison Niemisto — Three Sisters Cleaning

• Justis Wright — Wright’s Pressure Washing

  
  

Throughout the EPIC program, students gain firsthand experience in entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, financial literacy, networking, and professional development. The grant opportunity serves as a powerful next step, helping students turn the ideas they developed in the classroom into real-world business ventures.

One of the most impactful parts of the evening is the interaction between students and local business professionals. Students are able to practice networking skills, discuss their businesses with community leaders, and gain encouragement and advice from entrepreneurs who once stood where they are today.

The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation extends sincere gratitude to the sponsors, investors, and supporters who make the EPIC program and these grant opportunities possible each year. Their investment in local students is helping cultivate the next generation of business owners, innovators, and community leaders right here in South Baldwin.

By empowering young entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and opportunity, the EPIC program continues to prove that great ideas — and great futures — can start at any age.