Queens Economic Development Corporation

QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP - FY23 CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING

FOR MANY OPERATING ONES OWN BUSINESS IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN DREAM. WHILE ATTAINABLE, IT IS NOT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED THE CHALLENGES ARE MULTIPLIED: EDUCATIONAL/KNOWLEDGE GAPS, EXPERIENCE, FINANCIAL BARRIERS, LEGAL ISSUES AND SUPPORT ISSUES.EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCES ARE THE BIGGEST FACTORS.THEQUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (QEDC) IS PREPARED TO ADDRESS THESE OBSTACLES THROUGH A PROGRAMCOMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: RECRUITMENT, ASSESSMENT, COUNSELING, AND MENTORSHIPS. WORKING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS THAT PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED, WE WILL RECRUIT AND ASSESS THEIR CLIENTS WHO DESIRE TO OWN AND OPERATE A SMALL BUSINESS. ALL CLIENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO CLASSES IN BASIC BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE. UPON SATISFACTORY COMPLETION, THEY WOULD ADVANCE TO SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN THEIR SELECTED INTEREST. WHILE WE HAVE CLASSES IN SELECTED FIELDS, MOST TRAINING WILL BE DONE INDIVIDUALLY USING QEDC COUNSELORS. CLIENTS WILL BE ASSIGNED MENTORS. AS MANY FORMERLY INCARCERATED MAY NOT HAVE HAD ROLE MODELS IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL WORLD, WE BELIEVE THE MENTOR-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP IS VITAL. DURING THE PROGRAM WE WILL COORDINATE ALL EFFORTS WITH OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CLIENTS LIFE. THOUGH THIS GRANT IS FINITE, ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE WILL REMAIN QEDC CLIENTS BEYOND ITS TERM. CLIENTS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL QEDC PROGRAMS IN SERVICES INCLUDING CLASSES, CONTINUED COUNSELING, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND NETWORKING EVENTS AND CLASSES.

WOMEN'S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE (BASE RENEWAL)

THE FRESH PLATE FRESH START PROGRAM OF THE QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (QEDC) IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROJECT THAT WILL TRAIN FORMERLY INCARCERATED CLIENTS SO THAT THEY CAN COMMENCE CAREERS IN THE LOCAL FOOD INDUSTRY: RESTAURANTS, MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS IN NEED OF SKILLED STAFF. THE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE BASIC TRAINING IN OBTAINING FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATES, ADVANCED CULINARY TRAINING AS REQUIRED AND ASSISTANCE WITH INTERNSHIPS AND JOB PLACEMENT. THE QEDC WILL PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED INCLUDING FORTUNE SOCIETY, HOUR CHILDREN, AND WITNESS TO MASS INCARCERATION. AN IMPORTANT ASPECT WILL BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A JOBS PORTAL CONNECTING RESTAURANT AND FOOD BUSINESS WITH EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. SUPERVISED BY A PROGRAM MANAGER, IT WILL ALSO UTILIZE THE RESOURCES OF OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING INSTRUCTORS AND COUNSELORS. TRAINING AND CLASSES WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE ENTREPRENEUR SPACE, QUEENS ONLY NON-PROFIT COMMERCIAL KITCHEN INCUBATOR. LEARNING ALONGSIDE SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES WILL PROVIDE REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE.CLIENTS WILL BE OFFERED INTERNSHIPS WITH FOOD BUSINESSES THAT UTILIZE THE FACILITY. WORKINGWITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT DIVISION THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS,WE WILL ENGAGE THEM TO BE PART OF THE OF THE PORTAL FOR THOSE SEEKING JOBS IN THE INDUSTRY. WE EXPECT TO SERVE 100 CLIENTS.

WOMEN'S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE - CARES ACT

WOMEN S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE-RENEWAL

WBC - NY - QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

WOMEN'S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE NEW RENEWAL

PRIME ONE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS

PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY WOMEN AND REMOVE BARRIERS TOACCESSING CAPITAL

ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT DISASTER ASSISTANCE

QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION - CONTINUATION OPTION YEAR 2 (R-2020)

ENTREPRENEUR SPACE IMPROVEMENTS

ENTREPRENEUR SPACE IMPROVEMENTS

WOMEN S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE (RENEWAL)