Center for an Urban Future invites you to their event

Bolstering Immigrant and Minority-Owned Small Businesses Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

About this event

*If you have trouble accessing the replay of the event, please contact Stephanie at sarevalo@nycfuture.org. To view the replay of this forum, you can use the link in the same email you used to access the forum originally, or request a new link be sent above.

Immigrant- and minority-owned businesses make up an outsized share of all businesses in New York City, employ hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, and contribute to the economic vibrancy and character of neighborhoods in every corner of the city. But the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated many of these businesses. Some have already shut their doors permanently, while many more are hanging on by a thread. While immigrant- and minority-owned firms are far from the only businesses struggling to survive this crisis, they were less likely to have cash reserves before the pandemic hit, and a large share operate in the city’s hardest-hit industries—including restaurants, retail, and personal care. These businesses have also faced significantly greater challenges accessing government relief, including the Paycheck Protection Program, which threatens their ability to rebound as the economy reopens.

This solutions-oriented discussion dove into the specific challenges facing immigrant and minority-owned businesses and explored what can be done to help these firms get through this crisis. The first in a three-part virtual forum series, the live-streamed discussion examined what interventions city and state policymakers, nonprofit practitioners, private sector leaders, and New York consumers can make to boost this vital part of the city’s economy.

Speakers included:

  • Jonnel Doris, Commissioner, NYC Department of Small Business Services
  • Ron Kim, Member, NY Assembly
  • Ben Kallos, Member, NYC Council
  • Mohamed Attia, Executive Director, Street Vendor Project
  • David Estrada, Executive Director, Sunset Park Business Improvement District
  • Shaun McDougall, Head of Wealth & Retail Business Banking, HSBC Bank USA
  • Lissarette Nisnevich, Founder, Pequeñines NYC
  • Yanki Tshering, Executive Director, Business Center for New Americans
  • Tren’ness Woods-Black, VP of Communications, Sylvia's Restaurant; President, Tren'ness Woods-Black, LLC

Hosted by

  • Guest speaker
    DE G
    David Estrada Executive Director @ Sunset Park Business Improvement District

  • Guest speaker
    SM G
    Shaun McDougall HSBC Bank USA @ Head of Wealth & Retail Business Banking

  • Guest speaker
    CD G
    Commissioner Jonnel Doris NYC Department of Small Business Services

  • Guest speaker
    CK G
    Councilmember Ben Kallos

  • Guest speaker
    YT G
    Yanki Tshering Executive Director @ Business Center for New Americans

  • Guest speaker
    LN G
    Lissarette Nisnevich Founder @ Pequeñines NYC

  • Guest speaker
    TW G
    Tren’ness Woods-Black VP of Communications, Sylvia's Restaurant; President, Tren'ness Woods-Black, LLC

  • Team member
    JB T
    Jonathan Bowles Executive Director @ Center for an Urban Future

  • Guest speaker
    MA G
    Mohamed Attia Executive Director @ Street Vendor Project

  • Guest speaker
    AK G
    Assemblymember Ron Kim NYS Assembly

Center for an Urban Future

Center for an Urban Future is a catalyst for smart and sustainable policies that reduce inequality, increase economic mobility, and grow the economy in NYC.