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    Retro Dinner Diva Named Finalist for FedEx Grant Award

    Every year, FedEx awards 10 grants to small businesses around the country in an effort to provide support for the little guys that could. The grand prize is $25,000, no small change for anyone who’s ever launched his or her own business.

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    This year, FedEx chose 100 finalists from a pool of almost 4,000 submissions. Applicants had to present a business profile, meet relevant eligibility requirements, and fill out a grant questionnaire to get started. Online voting was only one of the factors considered for advancement; paramount was compelling and clear vision for the future.

    Two finalists were selected from our fair city. One of them, Retro Dinner Diva, a casserole delivery venture launched by Stephanie Eakins last August. It’s one of only three food-related companies chosen from the entire state, Guddina Coffee and Pig of the Month BBQ, both from Dayton, being the others.

    Eakins has successfully guided herself through the first round, and must survive a second that ends on March 12th. The 10 winners will be announced on March 24th. Runners-up will receive a grant of a smaller amount, but this sort of recognition can be just the thing a novice entrepreneur needs.

    “Winning the grand prize would put me on the path to achieving my small business dreams,” shares Eakins on the honor. “I’m a one-woman show doing everything myself, from recipe development, to cooking and deliveries. I would love to expand my business locally and eventually nationally.”

    Live Love Dew, a local skincare business, and friends of the Retro Dinner Diva, is the other local company in the running for the FedEx Small Business Grant. To view the complete finals list, visit smallbusinessgrant.fedex.com/top100.

    For more on Retro Dinner Diva, follow her at www.facebook.com/retrodinnerdiva.

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    Ayana Wilson
    Ayana Wilsonhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Ayana Wilson is a former staff writer at Columbus Underground who covered local restaurant industry news.
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