Durham In-Home Care Service Gets $10K Grant

Legacy Homecare Services in Durham is the first of five small businesses to receive a $10,000 grant from M&F Bank in partnership with the Fiserv Back2Business Program.

The company’s owner, Juantia Applewhite, was honored during a reception at M&F’s newly renovated branch in downtown Durham on Feb. 27.

Besides the Empowering Growth Small Business Grant, Legacy Homecare services will have a dedicated business banker to provide personalized guidance, expert advice, and tailored financial solutions. Operation HOPE will provide mentorship and other resources. The Durham Chamber of Commerce is offering Legacy Homecare a complimentary membership, with access to networking opportunities.

“Receiving this grant is such an honor,” Applewhite said, according to a news release. “This financial boost will help us continue to carry out our mission to deliver high-quality, personalized, and compassionate in-home care services. Our team is committed to enhancing the quality of life for clients and this will allow us to further educate and certify our employees, and expand our operations.”

The company has served Durham since 2021 and also provides non-medical transportation services throughout North Carolina.

Said Travis Rouse, senior vice president and chief sales officer for M&F Bank: “Each small business is a thread in the tapestry of our local communities, each unique and important. They contribute to a rich culture, create purpose through employment, and support economic growth.”

M&F Bank is the second oldest minority-owned bank in the country and is dedicated to enhancing the wealth and well being of underserved populations and communities. As part of its mission to enhance financial prosperity and close the wealth gap for minorities, the bank recently revealed an updated brand look and feel with the theme of  “Empowering Growth” at its forefront.

These grants are just part of the bank’s Empowering Growth rebrand. In November 2023, M&F Bank became a designated participant in the Small Business Administration’s Preferred Lender Program (PLP), which enables the bank to provide small businesses with faster turnaround times on their loan applications.

“M&F Bank’s mission to serve underserved people and communities aligns perfectly with our Back2Business Program,” said Neil Wilcox, executive vice president of corporate social responsibility at Fiserv. “It’s not just about money for them, it’s about trust, relationships and about making sure everyone receives the support and services they deserve.”

Fiserv, a global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions, has been supporting small businesses since 2020 through its Back2Business Program. The company has distributed more than 1,600 small grants as part of its $50 million commitment to diverse businesses across the United States and the United Kingdom.

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