TheLongIslandCommunityFoundationawardedthe LongIslandAssociationanditspartnersa$42,500 granttofosterinclusiveeconomicdevelopment.The fundingwillsupporttheLIAandpartnering organizationstheLongIslandAfricanAmerican ChamberofCommerceandLongIslandHispanic ChamberofCommercetodevelopaplanthatwould serveasaroadmapforimplementation.
LastJune,theLIAlauncheditsSmallBusinessSupport Program,collaboratingwiththetwopartner organizations,aimingtosupportandadvocateforthe region’sdiversesmallbusinesses.Withthegrantthe organizationswillworktoengagewiththeirmembers throughouttheyear,bothatquarterlyjointmeetings andatroundtablediscussionsandindividualmeetings. Thiseffortwillfosterdialogtoallowforfeedbackand bestpracticesonregionalcollaboration,marketingand outreachaswellasnavigatingchallenges.
Thethreepartneringorganizationswillalsoreachout tootherbusiness-supportorganizationsforinputand participation.
“TheLongIslandeconomywillcontinuetogrow, createjobsandbecompetitivewithotherregionsifwe canensureallsmallbusinessesarefullyparticipating, andtheLIAisexcitedtostrengthenourpartnership withtheLICF,LIAACCandLIHCCtosupportand provideresourcestooursmallbusinesscommunity whichisLongIsland’slifeblood,”MattCohen,LIA presidentandCEO,saidinastatement.
“LIAACCisreadytorollupoursleevestodevelopan actionplanbaseduponfeedbackfromourmembers abouthowwebestsupporttheirgrowth,PhilAndrews, presidentofLIAACC,saidinastatement.
“AsaparticipantintheU.S.SmallBusiness Administration’sCommunityNavigatorProgram,we canutilizethatexperiencetoinformthisplanthrough ourrelationshipswithlocalbusinessesfoundedby peopleofcolor,”headded.
“Hispanicsmallbusinesseshavefacedsignificant challengesduringthepandemicandarestillstruggling witheconomicuncertaintyrelatedtoinflation,hiring, supplychainissues,andotherfactors,”LuisVazquez, thepresidentofLIHCC,saidinastatement.
MATTHEWCOHEN:‘TheLongIslandeconomy willcontinuetogrow,createjobsandbe competitivewithotherregionsifwecanensureall smallbusinessesarefullyparticipating.’Courtesyof LongIslandAssociation
underservedcommunitywiththeresourcestheyneed toovercomethesechallengesinadditiontoidentifying themosteffectivewaystoprovidesupporttohavea positiveimpactonthewidercommunity,bycreating jobs,boostinglocaleconomies,andpromoting diversityandinclusion.aswesolidifyourimprinton LongIsland.”
“Ingoodtimesandhardtimes,smallbusinessesarethe foundationofvibrant,resilientcommunitiesand contributetothehealthandwell-beingofresidents,” Sol-MarieAlfonsoJones,seniorprogramofficeratthe LICF,saidinastatement.
“TheLongIslandCommunityFoundationisproudto supporttheleadershipoftheLongIslandAssociation, andAfricanAmericanandHispanicChambersof Commerce,”Jonesadded.“Thisinnovativeand inclusivepartnershipwillpromoteregional investmentsthatenhanceourregion’ssmallbusinesses andinstigatecommunitydevelopmentandwealth generationindiversecommunities.”
TheLIAwillengagetheStrategicPathwaysGroup,a minorityandwoman-ledfirmspecializingindiversity, equityandinclusionpracticestoconductworkunder thisgrant.Theteamcomprisessubject-matterexperts withover40yearsofindustryexperienceinthepublic andprivatesectors,includingFortune200,nonprofits, andpublicadministration.
“WelookforwardtocollaboratingwiththeLIA,LICF, LIAACC,andLIHCCtobuildcapacity,provide
“Hispanic-ownedbusinessesareanimportantpartof theU.S.economy,contributingsignificantlytojob creation,innovation,andeconomicgrowth,”headded. “However,theyhavebeendisproportionatelyimpacted bytheCOVID-19pandemic,astheytendtobe concentratedinindustriesthathavebeenmostaffected bylockdownsandsocialdistancingmeasures.”
TheLICFgrant,hesaid,“willhelpprovideour
access,andcreateopportunitiesandconnectionswitha goalofgrowthandsustainability,”TraceyEdwards, partneratStrategicPathwaysGroup,saidina statement.
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