Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation Receives $1 Million Grant Through the 2024 TD Ready Challenge to Support Small Businesses
The grant will support Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation's solution designed to help underserved small business owners develop, launch, or grow their businesses.
TAMPA, FL., MARCH 19, 2025 – The Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $1 million grant through the 2024 TD Ready Challenge, an annual initiative of TD that seeks to support nonprofit organizations developing impactful, measurable solutions for communities within the bank's footprint. This year, the program sought organizations finding innovative solutions that support underserved small business owners in developing, launching, or growing their businesses.
The grant is foundational to the Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation’s expansion of its Minority Business Accelerator (MBA), which is launching the Empower Sustainability-Focused Accelerator program to support MBA alumni. It addresses critical needs that minority business owners face during second-stage business growth by focusing on management structure, process systemization and culture development. The results of sustainable growth empower alumni to expand capacity, create jobs, and drive long-term economic impact.
“We are addressing the critical challenges in scaling because it enables the business owners to grow from just working in their businesses to leading it,” said Edwin Narain, 2025 Chair, Tampa Bay Chamber Board of Directors. “This support from TD Bank will help us do that for future generations of MBA Alumni. The positive, long-term impact of the Alumni Roundtables, Networking Events, Mastermind Groups, and A.I. enabled Learning Management System can’t be overstated!”
"Florida's small business ecosystem drives innovation and economic vitality while contributing to the vibrant communities across our state," said Nick Miceli, Regional President of Florida Metro for TD Bank. "Through the TD Ready Challenge grant, the Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation will expand resources for underserved small business owners by helping them overcome financial barriers and create jobs that strengthen our local communities."
The TD Ready Challenge is part of the Bank's longstanding commitment to helping create a more inclusive and sustainable future. Each year, the TD Ready Challenge invites eligible organizations to submit applications that offer solutions to a problem statement that is connected to one or more of the four drivers of the TD Ready Commitment: Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. In previous years, the TD Ready Challenge has focused on helping to address barriers to affordable housing, driving more equitable health outcomes and addressing pandemic-related learning loss.
A full list of TD Ready Challenge U.S. grant recipients as well as more information about the program can be found here.
About Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation
The Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Tampa Bay Chamber dedicated to serving our members and strengthening our community by building business success. The foundation provides ongoing leadership development and education programs that give our members unique opportunities for learning and growth. For more information on the Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation, visit: TampaBayChamber.com
About The TD Ready Commitment
TD has a long-standing commitment to deliver on its purpose to enrich the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. TD's corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, focuses community giving and colleague engagement in four areas that we call the Interconnected Drivers of Change: Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to work with nonprofit and community-based organizations to help make a positive impact for the customers and communities we serve.
For further information about the TD Ready Commitment, click here.