Spark grants go to 8 NewBo City Market shopkeepers

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Eight shopkeepers at the NewBo City Market have received Spark grants to help grow their small businesses in the market’s incumbator.

Recipients are Luna Gelato, The Barkery, Rare Bird Soap Shop, Lori Ann’s Candies, Capo’s Italian Beef, Tangled Heartstrings, Tree of Liminality, and Oja.

The grants are funded by the Iowa Women’s Foundation with support from the Cedar Grove Fund of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

Carol Elliot, founder of Luna Gelato, said the grant made it possible for her to buy a gelato machine “as well as cover some of the costs of starting a handmade gelato operation.”

Elizabeth Rueschhoff, owner of Lori Ann's Candies, is using her grant to buy a “tempering machine as well as a guitar cutter to increase efficiency and capacity of production. These new tools have allowed us to more effectively meet demand.”

Oja restaurant owner, Kwai Butler, said her Spark grant helped pay for a new refrigerated prep station and outfit the rest of the restaurant’s space. “We hope to increase our capacity for catering, weekly specials and a larger menu offerings,” expanding on its Korean cuisine.

Missa Coffman, founder of Tree of Liminality, used her grant to buy book-binding equipment and subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud, which will help the business craft new art.

“Supporting these innovative entrepreneurs as they navigate the path towards business expansion and community enrichment brings us immense satisfaction,” remarked Sarah Blais, senior director of market operations at NewBo City Market.