Second round of SEED grants planted

Winners of 2012 SEED grants from Bon Secours. (Photo by Lena Price)

Seven East End startups got a shot in the arm Tuesday from a Richmond health-care company.

Bon Secours Richmond Health System awarded $58,800 in grant money to seven Church Hill businesses through its Supporting East End Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) program.

The program is part of an initiative by Bon Secours to stimulate growth in the Church Hill area, said Dougal Hewitt, a senior vice president at Bon Secours. Any startup in the 23223 zip code was eligible, and 17 companies applied. The organization’s Richmond Community Hospital is located near that area.

The startups received the money in chunks of $10,000 or less and can use it to buy equipment or expand their businesses.

This is the second year Bon Secours has awarded SEED money, and the company has set aside the funds for a third and final round next year. Three of this year’s winners – Sub Rosa Bakery, Proper Pie Company and J. Burton Hauling and Disposal – received prize money last year.

The winners:

Allen Gray and Michael Johnson, All Around Painting

Michelle Peake and Phillip Perrow, Dutch & Co.

Diana Matthews and Carla Matthews, Era Vintage

Jodi Burton, J. Burton Hauling and Disposal

Neil Smith and Nicole Price, Proper Pie Co.

Evrim Dogu and Erdogan Dogu, Sub Rosa

Kendra Feather and David Rohrer, WPA Bakery