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The Music Compound, a Sarasota-based music education facility, seeks votes as it competes for a FedEx small business grant to expand its many offerings. Contact Name: Jenny Alday Townsend Contact Email: jenny@musiccompound.com Contact Phone Number: 941-379-9100 SARASOTA, FL: The Music Compound (MC) is vying for a FedEx small business grant and is asking for votes from the community. Florida budget cuts have reduced music programs in public schools, especially detrimental because music education has been proven to improve student performance in many other areas. To alleviate this problem, MC provides music education to all ages. Its mission: to inspire, collaborate and educate, providing access to a wide array of learning opportunities intended to not only build music skills but also enhance confidence, communication and social interaction abilities. It offers its students one-on-one private instrument lessons, group lessons, performance ensembles and workshops. Steadily expanding since it opened its doors in 2016, MC intends to use the FedEx grant money to continue to grow. MC opened a second location in 2018, and plans call for a third location to open in late 2019. Funds would be used to facilitate this goal, as well as for marketing, buildout and instruments. This grant would be key to MC’s expansion, and its ability to continue serving the needs of the community. STANDING UP FOR EDUCATION - AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY After witnessing the serious problems associated with music education budget cuts in our schools and the number of educators losing their jobs nationally, Sarasota businesswoman Jenny Alday Townsend decided to take action. She founded MC in January 2016 with just one teacher in a small space. Way beyond capacity just five months later, MC took over a 6,500-square-foot facility, located at 1751 Cattlemen Road, which today employs 30 people, houses 10 private studios, a 1,000-square-foot music lounge and a 3,000-square-foot state-of-the-art concert and event venue. In October of 2018, MC launched a second location, which houses four teaching studios in downtown Sarasota at 801 Apricot Avenue. In 2017, MC gave $12,500 back to the local community. In 2018, it was $22k. Most of these funds are used to provide access to instruments and music education for underprivileged youths. DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY Upon completing years of market research across the country, it was clear to Townsend that the other music education facilities only offered a small lobby with limited seating and small teaching studios. She wanted to offer a second home for musicians looking for inspiration, education and to be part of a community. “What sets Music Compound apart is our onsite Music Lounge and Performance Venue,” Townsend says. “Our Music Lounge allows members to explore instruments, collaborate with other individuals and enhance their music abilities before or after their lessons. The performance venue provides a stage onsite for musicians to craft their stage presence, artistry development and private lesson experience.” Now boasting 350 dedicated members, “Dreams are becoming reality on a daily basis at Music Compound,” Townsend says. “The most amazing and rewarding part of our job is to watch shy musicians blossom into show-stopping performers with remarkable stage presence and confidence.” ABOUT THE FEDEX SMALL BUSINESS GRANT CONTEST The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest is a grant program by FedEx to award 10 U.S.-based small businesses with grants up to $50,000 and up to $7,500 in FedEx Office print and business services. The voting period runs through April 1, 2019. Top 100 finalists will be announced April 5, 2019. Top 10 winners will be announced April 29, 2019. The top 100 finalists will be selected from a pool of the 700 entrants receiving the highest number of votes during the voting period. There is no minimum number of votes needed. A selection committee within FedEx will choose the finalists. There will be a total of 10 winners: Grand prize: One $50,000 winner + $7,500 in FedEx Office print and business services. Silver prize: One $30,000 winner + $5,000 in FedEx Office print and business services. Bronze prize: Eight $15,000 winners + $1,000 in FedEx Office print and business services. To vote for the Music Compound, visit www.musiccompound.com. ABOUT THE MUSIC COMPOUND The Music Compound, 1751 Cattlemen Road, and 801 Apricot Avenue, Sarasota, provides an environment to inspire, collaborate and educate children and adults in pursuit of their love of music. Members of the Music Compound have access to a wide array of learning opportunities intended to not only build music skills, but also enhance confidence, communication and social interaction abilities. Learning opportunities include one-on-one instrument lessons, group instrument lessons, music education, workshops, open forums to encourage music interactions, along with performance and recital opportunities. The goal is to transform dreams into reality by providing a contemporary and influential environment for musicians of all ages. For more information, visit www.musiccompound.com.