Kast Iron Soda Works, a craft soda shop and game lounge located in Salem, Ohio, was recently awarded a $10,000 small business grant. This grant was given to 34 businesses in Ohio as part of a collaboration between American Express and Main Street America. Among the hundreds of flavors of soda offered at Kast Iron, the business is known for its unique wall of sodas.
The funds from the grant will be used by Kast Iron to update the rear entrance of the building. The business plans to make the entrance more accessible and safe for both staff and customers by adding a new door and access ramp. In addition to these updates, Kast Iron also intends to create an outdoor patio for its customers to enjoy.
The Backing Small Businesses program, established in 2021, aims to assist under-resourced and economically vulnerable small business owners in recovering from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, 500 grants were given out to recipients across the nation, which is an increase from the 330-350 grants awarded in previous years. To see a complete list of grant recipients, you can click here to learn more.