Beautician Jasmine 史密斯 was just finishing her maternity leave following the birth of her first child when the pandemic forced her business, Beya Salon Studio & Allie, to shut down. 当时, 史密斯, who holds a license in cosmetology, had been in the process of growing and expanding her business. Instead, she found herself struggling to make ends meet.

史密斯 applied for the Strength in Beauty Fund, a relief effort supporting Atlanta’s cosmetology industry workers who have been adversely affected by the 新型冠状病毒肺炎 pandemic. 

“Invest Atlanta was a huge comfort to me,” says 史密斯. “Everyone there was great.”

Being a recipient of the fund has helped 史密斯 maintain her bills and recoup some of the losses resulting from wasted supplies, as well as cancellations. 另外, the fund has enabled her to subscribe to some paid marketing platforms to promote her business on social media. 

“The fund helped me keep things afloat,” says 史密斯. “And here we are, six months in, and still not back to normal. So the fund has really helped.”