05/06/2026

Citizens Names 2026 Small Business Community Champion Award Winners

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Citizens today announced the recipients of its 2026 Small Business Community Champion Award, recognizing 20 small businesses that are using their operations to address local needs, strengthen workforce pathways and expand access to essential services in the communities they serve.

This year’s honorees represent a range of sectors — including construction, education, healthcare, childcare, wellness and community services — and were selected based on how they plan to expand their businesses while responding to community needs. Each awardee will receive $10,000 in funding, along with one year of professional development and networking support through Luminary®, a global education and community platform for entrepreneurs.

Highlights

  • Citizens named its 2026 Small Business Community Champion Award recipients during National Small Business Month.
  • Each honoree will receive $10,000 and one year of Luminary® membership to support business sustainability and community impact.
  • Since the program began, Citizens has awarded nearly $2 million to small businesses through the Community Champion Award.

Small businesses play a central role in local economies by providing employment, essential services and community infrastructure. The Community Champion Award is designed to support businesses that are responding to workforce shortages, affordability pressures and shifts in how communities access education, care and services, while maintaining long‑term business viability.

“Small businesses are closely tied to the health of the communities they serve,” said Mark Valentino, Head of Business Banking at Citizens. “Through the Small Business Community Champion Award, we are supporting owners who are building sustainable businesses while addressing real community needs — whether that’s workforce development, access to care or educational opportunity. This year’s recipients reflect how small businesses adapt to changing local conditions and continue to be anchors in their communities.”

2026 Small Business Community Champion Award Recipients

The 2026 honorees include small businesses focused on workforce training, education access, health services, housing stability and community‑based programming (in alphabetical order by business name):

  1. 1st Step Healthcare Training (Detroit, MI): An accelerated healthcare training provider expanding access to affordable pathways into entry‑level healthcare careers.
  2. A Plus Realty Group LLC (Roslindale, MA): A minority‑owned real estate brokerage expanding multilingual housing education and community workshops focused on homeownership access.
  3. Babesburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): A women‑focused event company expanding staffing and capacity to meet demand for community‑driven events across Western Pennsylvania.
  4. Brilliant Minds Tutoring Service (Philadelphia, PA): A literacy tutoring provider expanding reduced cost academic services, family literacy workshops and culturally responsive instruction.
  5. Café S.O.U.L. (Providence, RI): A creative and wellness platform expanding free and low‑cost healing arts programming and community gatherings.
  6. Coastal Direct Primary Care (Lewes, DE): A direct primary care practice expanding discounted memberships and access to medical and mental health services.
  7. D & J Costume and Entertainment, LLC (Philadelphia, PA): A locally owned entertainment business expanding community programming and youth employment opportunities.
  8. Event Pros LLC (Bohemia, NY): An event production company expanding access to community events through portable infrastructure and nonprofit partnerships.
  9. Fade 2 Fabulous Hair Studio (Ypsilanti, MI): A mobile hair care business delivering services to seniors while training stylists to serve assisted living and in‑home communities.
  10. Harlem Cycle (New York, NY): A community‑based wellness business expanding low‑cost fitness programming and local instructor development.
  11. Jacobs Ladder CLC Inc. (Philadelphia, PA): A childcare organization strengthening trauma‑informed care, safety and family education supports.
  12. Level Salon (North Olmsted, OH): A women‑owned salon expanding discounted services, mentorship and community education.
  13. Mouse Specifics, Inc. (Framingham, MA): A life sciences manufacturer supporting STEM education through non‑invasive research tools and student-focused biomedical learning kits.
  14. New Chapter Home Improvement (Cambridge, MA): A woman‑led general contracting firm expanding workforce training and skilled trade exposure for youth across Greater Boston.
  15. NL Beauty Academy LLC, (Livonia, MI): A beauty education and certification provider expanding youth mentorship, workforce development and entrepreneurship programming across Metro Detroit.
  16. Ofemz Home Healthcare Agency LLC (Manchester, NH): An in‑home care provider expanding caregiver recruitment, training and culturally responsive services.
  17. Paw & Order Dog Training (Bulger, PA): A dog training business expanding therapy dog certification and mental health outreach, including support for veterans and healthcare workers.
  18. The Hatchet Factory (Forty Fort, PA): An entertainment venue expanding inclusive, low‑cost community programming.
  19. The WOW Crowd, LLC (Akron, OH): A social service organization supporting individuals with disabilities and mental health needs through inclusive programming and safe spaces.
  20. Vincenzo’s Landscaping & Home Improvement (North Branford, CT): A business expanding community service initiatives and local outreach efforts.

About the Small Business Community Champion Award

The Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award recognizes for‑profit small businesses that demonstrate a commitment to strengthening their communities while sustaining and growing their operations. Award recipients are selected based on how they plan to use the funding to respond to changing community needs and support long‑term business stability. Learn more here.

In addition to its Small Business Community Champion Award program, Citizens has provided more than $80 million in financing and loans through its Small Business Economic Opportunity Fund (EOF) since 2020 to support small business growth and strengthen Main Street economies. The bank has also awarded more than $1.1 million in EOF grants to nonprofit partners across its footprint.

This work earned Citizens the 2026 Joe Belew Award from the Consumer Bankers Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are Small Business Community Champion Award recipients selected?
Recipients are chosen based on how they plan to strengthen and sustain their business while supporting community growth and evolving local needs.

What support do winners receive?
Each recipient receives $10,000 and one year of Luminary® membership, which provides professional development, networking and business resources.

Who is eligible for the award?
The program is open to eligible for‑profit small businesses that are Citizens Business Banking customers in good standing and meet contest requirements.

How long has the program been in place?
The Small Business Community Champion Award is now in its ninth year and has awarded nearly $2 million to small businesses since its launch.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation's oldest and largest financial institutions, with $227.9 billion in assets as of March 31, 2026. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail, private banking, wealth management and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. Consumer Banking includes Citizens Private Bank and Private Wealth, which integrate banking services and wealth management solutions to serve high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as investors, entrepreneurs and businesses. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.