Owner of New Jersey Self-Defense Studio Fights to Keep Doors Open with COVID Relief Loan
Client: Traci Edwards, owner of Englewood Krav Maga
Client Location: Englewood, NJ
CDFI: New Jersey Community Capital
CDFI Service Area: NJ
Financing, with support from the Grow with Google Small Business Fund and Google.org Grant Program
For nearly eight years, Englewood Krav Maga (New Window) owner, Traci Edwards, has dedicated her life to strengthening physical and mental health in her community through the martial arts style of Krav Maga. As a woman entrepreneur, starting her first business was not easy, but after many years of hard work and commitment, her team was finally able to purchase a permanent space for their growing enterprise. Business was better than ever, with classes filling up with youth and seniors alike — until the pandemic forced the studio to temporarily shut its doors.
Just when everything she had worked so hard for was falling apart, Traci learned from her local Chamber of Commerce about New Jersey Community Capital (New Window) (NJCC)’s Garden State Relief Fund (GSRF), launched in March 2020 to support nonprofits and small businesses in the state critically affected by COVID-19. Traci applied to the GSRF and secured a $25,000 working capital loan, which allowed her to open Englewood Krav Maga’s doors again at 15 percent capacity in September 2020 after restrictions were lifted. Now she can offer a place for clients to improve their physical health and learn vital methods for self-defense and self-confidence once again.
“You are able to find hidden gems and exceptional businesses by understanding a person’s character and giving people a chance based on how much of their heart is in their business, not just how much is in their bank account,” said Traci. “I would give my last penny to this place [Englewood Krav Maga]. Luckily, thanks to NJCC, I won’t have to do that.”