By Deborah Brandt, Founder, Fig Industries & Fig magazine

When I moved back from New York City and founded Fig Industries in 2000, I knew I wanted to build a business that was different—one rooted in a mission of Design for Good. As I became involved in the Lancaster community, I learned more about what our city needed and embarked on a journey to help the independent businesses of Lancaster City by telling their stories, encouraging local engagement, and cultivating a pride of place.

Fig magazine was planted in 2005 and quickly became one of the core products of our growing marketing and design studio—with its mission to showcase small businesses, shine a light on creative entrepreneurs, and share what makes our city special so others would love it too.

Over the last two decades, Fig has invested in many initiatives that contribute to the vitality of our city, and in 2023, we decided to make a lasting commitment by channeling our mission into a financial legacy that will benefit small business owners and spur on new ideas for years to come.

The Fig Tree is a Donor Advised Fund through Lancaster County Community Foundation that awards annual grants to support improvements, expansions, and innovations to the local businesses of Lancaster City. It’s a way for us to give back to the city that has given us so much.

In our inaugural grant cycle in 2024, we were honored to award $5,000 grants to local businesses, which were selected by an independent advisory committee made up of local community leaders. Grant recipients presented ideas on how to grow their current businesses and start projects that have made Lancaster City even more vibrant.

One of the recipients was PAVAA Gallery, a home for Afrocentric performance and visual art led by local artists Gerri McCritty, Tyrell Hoff, and Marion Coleman. Their funds were used to fix broken pavement in front of the gallery and install a new gate at their driveway, where Gerri painted an original Afrocentric piece. These changes added beauty to the neighborhood and promoted walkability between Lancaster General Hospital and the Amtrak station.

Fellow creative entrepreneurs Austin, Julie, and Jess of Pocket Books Shop used their grant to make exterior improvements and commission a mural on the side of their neighborhood independent bookstore. The piece, created by Marsden Dvorak of Pride Painting, is an embodiment of their mission of inclusivity and promotes visibility for this important community space in Lancaster’s West End.

The other 2024 grant recipients were INGOMA Films, Pham Enterprise, RichStitch Embroidery, and Lancaster Gift Box. INGOMA is working on an immersive film installation, while Pham Enterprises—who operates three restaurant concepts including Issei—are working towards a refined brand identity. RichStich Embroidery is using their funds towards a coworking space that will bring together local creators, and Lancaster Gift Box is celebrating a move to a bigger retail space on North Queen Street while using their grant towards a larger vision for product expansion and scaling their business.

Each of these small businesses represent necessary pillars in our local economy and play an important role in crafting the fabric of our community.

Another important aspect of The Fig Tree is the opportunity for local organizations, businesses, and individuals to donate to the fund, which allows for more grants to be awarded each year and further fosters a sense of connectedness around this special place we call home.

At Fig Industries, we’ve always believed that one big idea can change everything and every business has the power to have a positive impact on their community. We are honored that our small creative business has found a way to use our big idea to honor, shape, and support Lancaster’s thriving future.

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