Altice USA and Optimum Announce Grant Recipients Through the Coalition to Back Black Businesses

Optimum and parent company Altice USA are once again partnering with the Coalition to Back Black Business (CBBB), a multi-year initiative to support Black-owned businesses and the communities they serve. During Black History Month, the company is proud to announce the 52 small businesses across Optimum’s 21-state footprint that will receive a $5,000 grant along with mentorship and other resources to support their growth, long-term success, and resilience.

For more than three years and since the program launch in 2020, Optimum has partnered with the CBBB to provide funding and resources to the Black business community. Since becoming a partner with the CBBB, Optimum has supported 235 black-owned businesses and impacted 50 communities with $1.9 million in grants, training, and resources.   

The company continues to provide assistance and connectivity for its customers and communities, and this initiative with the CBBB will have a lasting impact on businesses as they continue to recover from the pandemic. As part of our celebration this Black History Month, Optimum is also highlighting the contributions these local entrepreneurs are making in their communities with posts across Optimum’s social media channels and signage in Optimum’s local retail stores.   

Featured CBBB grant recipients include:  

• Simone Morris Enterprises LLC in Norwalk, Connecticut: A certified minority and woman-owned business founded in 2015, the company provides leadership solutions that transform workplace culture. They service clients nationwide across various industries including higher education, manufacturing, luxury retail, professional services, finance and insurance, consumer product goods, and more.

• Level Up Learning Center in Greenville, Mississippi: A Nonprofit Corporation dedicated to educating the whole child, where employees are trained to provide a high quality academic and social educational environment for infants eight weeks and older.

• Vontélle Eyewear in Brooklyn, New York: Vontélle was founded to satisfy the demand for better-fitting vibrant, luxury eyewear within BIPOC communities. They offer optical frames and sunglasses in sizes that compliment diverse faces with wider bridges for your nose, longer temples for behind the ears, and larger lenses for high cheekbones to fit comfortably on your face. 

• Jacks BBQ Sauce LLC in Muskogee, Oklahoma: While growing up on a small farm outside of Boynton, Oklahoma, Sharla fell in love and was introduced to cooking and seasoning foods by her father Jack H. Jackson. JACKS was created in 1979 as a then 14-year-old Sharla found herself barbequing with no sauce. With her creativity and mixes of spice and ketchup Just Another Country Kickin’ Sauce was born.

In addition to supporting 52 businesses with $5,000 grants this year, Optimum is providing $25,000 enhancement grants to two eligible businesses this spring to further assist in their long-term success.

Click here to learn more about the Coalition to Back Black Businesses and follow along at optimum.com/bhm for the full list of grant recipients.