Florence-based Smokin’ This and That BBQ received a $5,300 small business grant from Fifth Third Bank.
The restaurant received the grant as part of Fifth Third’s third annual “Swap, Snap, Share” Small Business Appreciation Campaign, a social media-based program where bank employees nominate their favorite local small businesses for recognition.
Smokin’ This and That BBQ was nominated by Kristin Boone, manager of the Fifth Third’s Mount Zion Road financial center, whose team visits the restaurant for lunch and catering.
Smokin’ This and That BBQ launched in 2013 from a backyard kitchen before expanding to their current standalone site at 10020 Demia Way in Florence.
“This could not come at a better time, with us opening up a new location,” Owner Mandy Cummins said in a news release. “A second location is truly a feat, and I’m so grateful for this grant. This will help us get open much quicker. It’s the best Christmas present ever.”
This year, more than 2,500 small businesses were entered into the national sweepstakes, with 11 selected for $5,300 grants. Since launching the campaign in 2023, Fifth Third employees have highlighted more than 7,500 small businesses using the hashtag #Love53, left more than $150,000 in surprise $53 tips, and helped distribute nearly $250,000 in grants.
The campaign is a component of Fifth Third’s broader small business support efforts, which include lending, investment programs, technical assistance, and community development projects across its 12-state area.