New York City’s Small Business Service celebrates black-owned businesses during National Black Business Month.
Brooklyn entrepreneur Shawanda Clarence has fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning a salon that she’s wanted since she was seven years old.
She opened the doors to Bed-Stuy’s Sew Brooklyn Hair Extension Lounge in 2015. City data shows that only 3.5% of her New York businesses are black-owned, but the city’s Small Her Business Service aims to make these businesses easier. . growing up.
A program called Black Entrepreneurs New York City was launched in 2019 to provide services and resources specifically for black business owners.
According to Small Business Services, Black and other minority entrepreneurs were not equally given the resources to start a business, so the program provides mentorship, education, and mentorship to help Black people start growing their businesses. Created to provide counseling, and resources.
For Clarence, Small Business Services was able to help her survive during the COVID-19 pandemic. And now her business is booming.