Comedian and entrepreneur Kevin hart has announced an expansion of his grant program, which will now include AI training for recipients.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Gran Coramino® Tequila opened a new round of grants through The Coramino Fund for entrepreneurs today as part of a highly successful program to support small business growth in low-income communities.

The Coramino Fund was established by Gran Coramino® Tequila, co-founded by comedian and entrepreneur Kevin Hart and 11th-generation tequila maker Juan Domingo Beckmann. Gran Coramino teamed up with LISC to launch its small business grants in 2022, and The Coramino Fund has since awarded more than $1 million to 100 small businesses.

The Coramino Fund is designed to help catalyze growth for businesses that might otherwise be unable to secure the capital necessary to grow. This new round of $10,000 grants for 50 small businesses includes an exciting new feature for the program, which will provide grantees with the opportunity to receive cutting-edge AI technological training and hands-on learning through 1st Street Partnerships, a new partner of Gran Coramino® Tequila. The goal is to help businesses streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and make data-driven decisions—much like larger firms do with AI. In fact, a study by the Bipartisan Policy Center found that 83 percent of small business owners using AI report improvements in systems, efficiency, and content production, with 54 percent noting a positive impact on business growth.

“Our goal from day one has been to support hard-working entrepreneurs who run into obstacles securing the resources they need to grow,” said Kevin Hart, co-founder of Gran Coramino Tequila. “This continued work with LISC and a new partnership with 1st Street goes one step further. It gives owners the tools to get an advantage in today’s business environment. AI can be confusing. But the data isn’t – the businesses who adopt it early are better positioned to succeed in the long run.”

For LISC, the partnership with Gran Coramino helps extend its deep support for entrepreneurship, income- and wealth-building, and jobs in communities where capital gaps often hinder economic growth. “Entrepreneurs drive community prosperity,” noted Michael T. Pugh, president and CEO of LISC. “Yet many often encounter barriers in accessing crucial funding and support. This initiative helps more small business owners succeed and expand.”

Monk Inyang, co-founder and CEO of 1st Street Partnerships, added: “As artificial intelligence is shaping the future of business, entrepreneurs must have the proper access and training to remain competitive and thrive. We commend Gran Coramino and LISC for recognizing this as mission-critical, and we’re honored to partner with them to provide grant recipients with specialized AI programs and strategic mentorship through the lens of cultural intelligence.”