CBS12 News Team

Delray Beach surfing company up for $250,000 small business grant

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -- A local business owner could soon be a a lot richer. He's one of a dozen small businesses up for a $250,000 grant. The only catch, the business has to show how it gives back to the community.

David Zima: I have the shirt on that Saves Surfing saved my life and literally being on my board it was my outlet.

It may have started out as a hobby, but David Zima has turned his passion for surfing and making surfboards into VEGABond, a small business known from Florida to Costa Rica.

David Zima: Business is not just based on skate boarding and surfing its based on any passion you have in life and I found mine. I want to help other people find theirs.

That's one of the reasons VEGABond is hoping to become one of 12 small businesses to receive a $250,000 grant from Chase Bank. The program was developed to provide small businesses with resources needed to make a positive impact on their businesses -- businesses that also plan to use that money to give back to their local community.

David Zima: We just helped out with island water sports and h2flow, sent 16 kids to surf camp. We donated shirts to them that's donations to help out these kids.

Zima first became interested in surfing when he was about seven-years-old. He's been making these surfboards commercially for the past three years. But Zima says surfing is more than just a business it's his passion and his way of life.

David Zima: With the $250,000 we could build more product and grow the VEGABond family is what we really want to do and help out as many people as we can.

To be considered for the grant, VEGABond must receive at least 250 votes by the end of this month. If they do, their application will be evaluated and the grant recipients will be announced mid-September.
Zima is hoping for as many votes as possible. He says surfing may save another kid's life, the way it did his.

David Zima: Anyone who touches a surf board or skate board its something special and to give that back to community, and to give these kids inspiration, and a goal in life, is huge.

Friday, June 22 2012, 08:35 PM EDT

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