Genesis 12 Project Awards Jasper Businesses 11th and 12th Blessings

Jasper - This week the Genesis 12 Project, funded by anonymous donors, blessed its 11th and 12th Jasper businesses.

Mostly in $10,000 increments, the Genesis 12 Project has awarded nearly $120,000 in total relief in amidst the pandemic. This week, the 11th winner was Just Whimsy, a clothing retailer on the downtown square; the 12th was given to Elements of Design.

Heart of Jasper, a local non-profit, had teamed up with the Genesis 12 Project to find deserving area businesses. Heart of Jasper Director Kate Schwenk says this partnership was like a match made in heaven.

"It speaks true to heart of Jasper's mission, we're a non-profit that focuses on revitalizing downtown, so, part of that is supporting the small businesses that are here and bringing in new businesses, but really reviving that economy down along Main Street and the downtown square," Schwenk said. "Being a partner of Genesis 12 we've been very appreciative of the donor and the other local donors who have given to that project to help provide relief to those stores. Hopefully they'll continue to be around for years to come, the last thing we want to see is businesses to close their doors, especially due to COVID."

As for the future of the Genesis 12 Project, Schwenk says to stay tuned.

"We hope we're not done," said Schwenk. "We might just have a different spin on what that project looks like."