MishMoccs in Running for FedEx Small Business Grant

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The founder of MishMoccs, Micheline Thompson, says the FedEx Small Business Grant competition could be a catalyst for her company as she works to scale up the production and sales.

The FedEx Small Business Grant competition provides both a cash prize and printing services to the winners. One Gold Prize winner will walk away with $50,000 plus $7,500 in FedEx Office print and business services. In addition, the Silver Prize winner will win $30,000 and $5,000 in office services and 10 Bronze Prize winners will win $15,000 and $1,000 in office services. 

Thompson was born in the midst of the Civil War in Beirut, where U.S. Marines and Navy troops stationed in her neighborhood as International Peace Keepers offered her community stability and much-needed relief. 

Since then, Thompson moved to the Mahoning Valley and has had an appreciation for the military, which led to the opening of MishMoccs, a company that makes premium leather moccasins for infants. MishMoccs is focused on employing retired veterans and donating a percentage of profit from each sale to aid disabled veterans. 

“At MishMoccs we walk with purpose and encourage you to support us on this FedEx competition by voting,” Thompson said in a video.

People can vote here once per day until March 8.

Thompson is also a past cohort participant of the YBI Women in Entrepreneurship program and a participant in the 2019 YBI Shark Tank competition. 

Youngstown has had successful representation in the FedEx Small Business Grant competition, one of which is Danny Catullo, who entered his company, Catullo Prime Meats, in the competition in 2013. Catullo won a $5,000 prize, which gave him access to higher-quality cold shipping boxes. He is known for his success in shipping and e-commerce, and he attributes some of that success to the FedEx grant. 

“When we have a small business from the area involved in something like the FedEx Small Business Grant competition, community support can make all the difference,” said Corey Patrick, director of marketing and communications at the Youngstown Business Incubator.

Pictured: MishMoccs founder Micheline Thompson

SOURCE: Youngstown Business Incubator

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.