STANDING Brooklyn’s Biggest Booster
BK Chamber honors black business owners
BY MEG CAPONE
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
honored African-American and
Carribean-American businesses at
the Billie Holiday Theater in Bedford-
Stuyvesant on Feb. 4.
Among the event’s four honorees
included Roy Hastick, an immigrant
from Grenada and former vice-chair of
Community Board 9 in Crown Heights,
who founded the Caribbean American
Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
which promotes economic development
and small business services on
behalf of Caribbean Americans, African
Americans, women and other minority
entrepreneurs.
Other honorees included National
Allotment founder Samuel Dunston,
Lillian’s Professional Services CEO
Lillian Bowman, and Peter Howell,
president of Howell Industries, who
were awarded for their many years
serving Kings County consumers, according
to the president of the Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce.
“Our four honorees…all have long
and distinguished histories serving
Brooklyn,” said Randy Peers.
The Brooklyn Chamber’s Black History
Month celebration was a return to
form for the Kings County business
booster, which hosted its fi rst black
awards gala on Tuesday after suspending
the event last year’s incarnation of
the annual event.
“I promised as the new President
I would return us to our roots,” said
Peers.
COURIER L 30 IFE, FEBRUARY 14-20, 2020
Kings County legal eagles
rubbed shoulders honored Brooklyn’s
most honorable at the Brooklyn
Women’s Bar Association Judiciary
Night on Feb. 6.
Members of the legal society
toasted several newly elected
judges, including Supreme Court
Justices Rosemarie Montalbano
and Steven Mostofsky, State
Claims Court Judge Lillian Wan,
and Civil Court Judge Derefim
Neckles .
“The event was wonderful and
very well attended,” said Brooklyn
Women’s Bar Association
President Meryl Schwartz.
Appellate Court Judge Alan
Scheinkman treated attendees to
a discussion on recent events at
the Appellate Division of the Supreme
Court.
“It was very informative and
we appreciate him taking the time
to come to our event,” Schwartz
said.
With the Judiciary Night behind
it, the Women’s Bar Association
is planning a Black History
Month celebration on Feb. 18.
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President
Randy Peers.
Photo by Derrick Watterson
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
launched an innovative
funding program this week, which
provides so-called “micro loans”
to small businesses struggling to
gain credit with larger banks, according
to the business boaster’s
chief.
“This grant will provide needed
funding to entrepreneurs and
small business owners, especially
MWBE’s in underserved neighborhoods
that may have had trouble
in the past accessing loans to advance
and grow their operations,”
said Brooklyn Chamber President
Randy Peers.
The program focus on helping
woman and minority-owned enterprises
to hire additional employees,
rent retail space, or expand
their existing storefronts through
the distribution of loans averaging
$1,200 each.
A substantial upfront loan can
make a world of difference for a
small business, and frees entrepreneurs
from the hassle of working
through large banks, according to
Amber Lasciak, founder of REDU
NYC, a furniture manufacturer
who received a micro loan from
the chamber.
“When you’re starting a business
and you’re self-funded, you
need all the help you can get,” Lasciak
said.
The lack of funding is often what
prevents new businesses from getting
off the ground, and many business
owners list it as their number
one challenge according to Gregg
Bishop, Commissioner of the New
York City Department of Small
Business Services.
“I’ve heard from many small
business owners, and they constantly
said accessing capital is
one of their major struggles,”
Bishop said.
The program is the result of
a $125,000 grant from the federal
government, through the Department
of the Treasury.
From left, Judge Lara Genovesi, Judge Rosemarie Montalbano, and Judge Diana Perone.
Photo by Derrick Watterson
Brooklyn Bar toasts boro judges
Business booster
offers small
business loans
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce honors four black business
owners with along history in the borough.
Jerry Kwabena Adnikrha, producer of the Ghana Heritage Kente Festival,
gave the honorees kente scarves Photos by Zoe Freilich