LEBANON, Ohio—An Ohio salon got some national recognition after receiving an American Express grant.

Amber Bromer spends her days making sure Salon Noir is in tip -top shape.

She gave up cutting and styling hair because she wanted to have more time to manage her two salons and mobile hair salon.

“Before my priority was like clients, and it still is," Bromer said. "Now I can be more motivating to my team and providing more education.”

Every day she walks into her business, she still interacts with her clients and employees.

Yet, it hasn’t been an easy two years- Bromer says she’s proud of keeping the doors open 

“It’s amazing because it really was a rough time on all of us," Bromer said.

Bromer's effort didn’t go unnoticed. A local community member nominated Bromer and her salon for an American Express grant for businesses that survived the pandemic.

“They were looking at businesses that made it through COVID and made it through that rough time and are still thriving," Bromer said.

And Bromer won $5,000 for her salon. That money will go directly to helping hire more people by installing a new workstation.

“We’ve got a double station here, I put that in just a few months ago and we have room for another one," she said. "So we’re fully staffed right now, but we’d love to add a couple more stylists. So once we get that station in and thanks to the grant, we’ll have that in soon, and we can hire again.”

Bromer says she’s grateful for the grant and for persevering through some hard years to get here.

The grant is part of the Inclusive Backing program through Main Street America. 250 recipients receive $5,000 grants throughout the year and are given to businesses in older or historic areas that were disproportionately affected by the pandemic and owned by a minority business owner.