Image Credit: Small Business Services

Three new mentorship programs are available for minority owned and women-owned small business in NYC. On January 7, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Dorris announced three new mentorship programs, ‘Small Business Mentors NYC,’ ‘Black Entrepreneurs NYC Mentors (BE NYC Mentors),’ and ‘Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE Mentors).’ (more…)

Mayor Bill de Blasio. Image credit: CityLand

The fund currently has $210 million in lendable proceeds. On January 21, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio, along with the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Housing Development Corporation, Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and a coalition of public, private and philanthropic partners announced that the New York City Acquisition Fund (NYCAF) will exclusively serve Minority and Women-Owned Businesses (M/WBEs) and nonprofits to support affordable and supportive housing development.  (more…)

Department of Design and Construction Logo Image Credit: DDC

On March 13, 2023, Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley announced the first contract available exclusively for participants in the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) Mentoring Program was awarded.  (more…)

The 351 Powers project seeks to build affordable housing on an empty lot in Mott Haven. Image Credit: HPD.

The South Bronx development will include approximately 80 new affordable homes and a building designed to withstand climate change. On August 18, 2022, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) began accepting proposals to build an 100 percent affordable, climate resilient housing project in Mott Haven, Bronx. Located on an undeveloped stretch of 351 Powers Avenue, the finished project will include approximately 80 new affordable homes. (more…)

Department of Design and Construction Logo Image Credit: DDC

On July 13, 2022, the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley announced the creation of the City’s first Pre-Qualified List, strictly for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises general contractors. The Pre-Qualified List was designed to provide Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises general contractors with first dibs over Department of Design and Construction projects between $500,000 and $2.99 million. In this way, construction contracts can be awarded faster and projects can be completed earlier without the need to run background checks or qualifications on all the bidders. (more…)