Local Businesses Win ShopLocal.us Grants

Two Redondo Beach small, independent businesses will be honored by ShopLocal.us, founder Heidi Butzine announced in a news release last week.

Riviera Village gift store Harmony Works and South Redondo Beach interior design service Kate Lester Interiors received second- and third-place awards in the 2013 Small Indie Business Grant prizes. BabyCakes Baking Company, based in Torrance, received the $1,000 first-place grant.

It wasn't immediately clear which Redondo Beach business received which grant. All winners received a grant, a one-year certification as a Certified Locally Owned business, a listing at ShopLocal.us, and promotion through ShopLocal.us websites and social media.

"In view of the recent government shutdown, I believe this is an opportunity to reinforce awareness and redouble our efforts to support local businesses," Butzine told Patch via email. 

Businesses were judged on several factors, including involvement in the community and how they would use the grant funds. To be eligible for the grant, the businesses had to be continuously operating in the South Bay for at least three years; have 10 or fewer full-time employees; receive a minimum number of online votes; and be independently owned, employee-owned, community-owned or owned by a local cooperative.

"We wanted to give a little boost to local businesses," Butzine wrote in a statement. "Small indie businesses are an important part of sustaining the local economy and character of our communities."

Harmony Works, which recently reopened in a new location on Catalina Avenue after losing the lease on its old location down the street, features gifts made from socially and environmentally responsible sources. Owners Michael and Royce Morales founded the store almost 20 years ago.

Kate Lester Interiors, owned by principal designer Kate Lester, has offered full-service interior design services, specializing in custom home design and the design/build process, to clients for the past five years.

ShopLocal.us is a website and organization that encourages people to support local, independent businesses.