Dallas' The Plant Project Wins Top Grant Package from Lenovo’s Evolve Small Initiative

Dallas’ The Plant Project Wins Top Grant Package from Lenovo’s Evolve Small Initiative

Bree Iman Clark, founder of Dallas-based The Plant Project, is one of six North American Platinum winners of this year's initiative. With four locations in Dallas, Houston, and Galveston, The Plant Project offers more than a plant store—it enables community members ways "to grow by rooting for each other." Two other Dallas businesses—HustleBlendz and Puzzles of Color—were named as Gold package winners.

Global tech powerhouse Lenovo has announced the winners of its Evolve Small Initiative, with a goal of elevating small businesses to new heights nationwide—and one of the six top winners is based in Dallas.

Bree Iman Clark, founder of Dallas-based The Plant Project, is one of six national Platinum winners. With four plant shop locations in Dallas, Houston, and Galveston, The Plant Project is “deeply rooted in diversity.” It was created “to celebrate community, culture, and plants,” and promises that each of its locations is more than a plant shop: “We are a place where we know, in order to GROW we must ROOT for one another,” the startup says on its website.

Clark will be getting $15,000 in grants, a $10,000 technology package, specialized mentorship for entrepreneurs from CWC Coaching and Therapy, and the chance to promote The Plant Project on billboards and social media platforms in her startup’s local areas of operation—featuring AI-customized ads with fellow small business owner and Evolve Small ambassador Queen Latifah.

Clark is a multi-faceted entrepreneur

Clark is a multi-talented, multi-faceted entrepreneur—and being a successful plant and floral expert is just the start of it. Her shop has been showcased in projects with Chip and Joanna Gaines. Clark herself is also an award-winning TEDx speaker, a local media personality, and a “leading community builder.” She and her husband Carlos also operate the lifestyle brand The Iman Project.

Clark hosts “On the Table” workshops at The Little House Project Studio, a multipurpose space in the Dallas’ Bishop Arts district, and also operates Bree Blooms, a flower shipment and flower-arranging tutorial program. But wait, there’s more: her Interior Plantscape Project offers expertise to green up businesses, office spaces, private homes and more.

Lenovo said the six platinum award winners were selected following “an extensive selection process in partnership with AMD, Microsoft, and with entrepreneurship and community building non-profit, Goodie Nation.

Queen Latifah is Lenovo’s Evolve Small Initiative ambassador. [Photo: Lenovo]

Two other Dallas businesses win Gold grant packages

Two other Dallas businesses—HustleBlendz and Puzzles of Color—were named among the Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Gold package winners. They’ll each receive a $15,000 grant along with Lenovo technology to help power their businesses.

Per Lenovo, HustleBlendz is “a five-star rated coffee shop and cold brew company serving ethically sourced coffee for the everyday hustler.”

Puzzles of Color is “a black-owned family puzzle company featuring the work of artists of color.”

Awarding ‘the spirit of innovation and resilience’

The other five Platinum small business winners are located in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

You can see all the other Lenovo Platinum and Gold winners by going here.

“These remarkable small businesses exemplify the spirit of innovation and resilience that defines the entrepreneurial community,” Gerald Youngblood, CMO of Lenovo North America, said in a statement. “We’re committed to the role technology plays in their journey towards success and look forward to witnessing their continued growth and impact.”