MBDA grantee credits Capital Readiness Program with helping Nevada shoe‑cleaning startup scale online

A Capital Readiness Program grantee who identified themselves as part of the Minority Business Development Agency said the agency‑backed program helps businesses that traditional lenders cannot serve and credited the program with helping a Nevada shoe‑cleaning startup grow into an online seller.

The speaker said, "The CRP and the MBDA stand in the gap to where traditional capital institutions can't meet," describing the Capital Readiness Program as an initiative to align policies, funding and elected‑official support to reach underserved communities.

The presentation said the CRP is "just getting started" and highlighted one early success: New Life Kicks, a small shoe‑cleaning brand that worked with a Nevada Grow program and used CRP supports to establish an e‑commerce presence. "I've seen small businesses that had a dream and they realized that dream because they work with our organization," the presenter said, describing the business's move to online sales.

By citing New Life Kicks, the speaker framed the CRP's goals as practical supports for business formation and scaling. The presenter said being among the first cohorts of CRP grantees has encouraged collaboration: "as one of the first cohorts we're really leaning on each other a lot."

The remarks emphasized local impact in southern Nevada and the speaker expressed hope that the model could support other communities statewide and nationally. "I'm thankful to be part of the MBDA," the presenter said, "because what we're able to do in our community in southern Nevada and in all of Nevada is something that's going to help our state and hopefully our country."

The transcript records these remarks as a presentation; it does not include any formal motions, votes or specified next steps.