Start Small Campbell Grant Fills Funding Gap for Start-Up Therapy Business

(Pictured: left to right: Jack Dean, IDA Representative: Tina Allis of Speechless No More: and Supervisor Justin Carwile, Timberlake District)

RUSTBURG: Tina Allis, licensed speech-language pathologist and owner of Speechless No More, LLC, received Campbell County Economic Development’s Start Small Campbell Grant of $5,000 grant this spring.

This Campbell County business provides speech therapy to underserved populations, including three- to five-year-olds and adults without insurance. Allis provides quality speech therapy services that are evidence-based and research-driven for patients referred by their physicians. The speech-language pathologist has worked in this area since 2005.

The Start Small Campbell Grant award was presented to her at Campbell County's Business Appreciation event on May 4.

Allis was very glad and excited to receive the award.

She said the grant money would be used to establish an electronic medical recordkeeping system. This would be able to generate invoices, bill insurance companies, and track outcomes of patients’ progress for reporting to doctors. The grant will also help pay for a Vitalstim unit and electrodes so she can provide neuromuscular electrical stimulation in swallowing rehabilitation. 

“I was needing extra funding for the business to get it up and rolling, specifically; for those two items,” said Allis. “Because they are big ticket items, I knew I couldn’t do it on my own.”

Allis had some advice for people applying for Campbell County’s Start Small Campbell Grant. 

She said the prompts in the different grant application sections were extremely helpful. 

“Once I looked at those, the information just flowed,” said Allis. “It definitely takes some thought, but if you’re diligent enough in the process, the reward is huge in the end.”

 Start Small Campbell Grants are available to start-up and existing small businesses (less than three years old) opening their first Campbell County location. Additionally, all local taxes must be current, as well as a valid Campbell County business license.

Two Small Business Development Center in Lynchburg Region (SBDC) training workshops are required as part of the application process. Additionally, applicants must develop a business plan with SBDC.

“They were very helpful,” said Allis. “Between Jawansa Hall (branding and marketing advisor) and Stephanie Keener (executive director)…the SBDC was phenomenal, said Allis.

“Campbell County is invested in supporting and encouraging small businesses,” said Nina Rezai, Campbell County Director of Economic Development. “Business growth is a priority for the County, as evidenced by this program. We want new businesses to choose Campbell County and use tools that are available to help them succeed. That’s why we teamed up with SBDC.”

“The Department of Economic Development looks forward to supporting the next round of entrepreneurs joining the Campbell County small business community,” said Rezai. Applications are due by September 1st for the next round of Start Small Campbell Grants.

For more information about the Start Small Campbell Grant Program visit https://www.campbellvirginia.com/new-business/webforms/start-small-campbell-grant-program, call (434) 332-9643, or email cadixon@co.campbell.va.us.

 # # #