TranquiliThai | Application Preview
TranquiliThai is seeking government grants to support funding for massage licensing education after the abrupt removal of the Asian bodywork exemption in Illinois in 2019. This change impacted many practitioners, including the applicant, who has been out of work for over a year. The funding will cover the costs of schooling, travel, parking, insurance, testing, and licensing fees. The applicant is part of a coalition advocating for necessary licensing legislation that has faced delays due to COVID-19.
The business plan focuses on pushing for legislation while also establishing the state’s only Illinois Board of Higher Education-approved Thai massage educational program. The applicant emphasizes the importance of their work in combating human trafficking by promoting ethical regulations in the Thai massage field.
In terms of competition, the applicant faces licensed massage therapists who have only taken brief training on Thai massage. The applicant's unique advantage comes from over seven years and 800 hours of dedicated study in Thai medicine, including annual trips to Thailand for further learning. They express a deep passion for preserving the integrity of Thai massage while ensuring safety, proper regulation, and the inclusion of indigenous trained healers from Thailand.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 344602117
Location: Glendale Heights, IL, United States
Length of Operation: 5
Number of Employees:
Annual Gross Income:
Annual Gross Expense:
Open to Loans: NO
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Funding Usage
Illinois removed the Asian bodywork exemption in 2019 without notice. This put hundreds of existing practitioners out of business in 2020. I'm part of a coalition fighting for licensing legislation, but due to covid, its been delayed for 2 sessions now. I've been out of work in excess of one year. The only path to get back to work is schooling for a massage license. This would fund schooling only. Total costs will include, schooling, travel, parking, insurance, testing, and licensing fees. I saw a grant in Illinois to cover undo hardship, but I've been unable to relocate this.
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Business Plan
I plan to continue to fight for legislation, as well as establish the only Thai massage educational program that's Illinois Board of Higher Education approved. I am one of the only people fighting to thwart human trafficking by establishing ethical and appropriate regulation of Thai massage in the US.
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Self Identified Competition
Currently, my only competitors are licensed massage therapists who have taken brief (i.e. 2 hour or 2 week) continuing education classes on Thai massage. I have specifically studied Thai medicine for over 7 years (over 800hrs of education.) I travel to Thailand yearly to study. This is my ikigai, my calling, and you will not find anyone in the united states more passionate about protecting this modality than myself. I consider things like safety, regulation, implementation. I also take measures against appropriation, and I'm sure to include indigenous trained healers from Thailand that have immigrated.
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Contact Applicant
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