BUSINESS BUSINESS NEWSLETTER
Week of April 13 , 2026 th
On Wednesday, April 8th, the 5th SEQBI cohort concluded with a high intensity pitch finals at Resorts World New York City. The four finalists, JessPuddin, Dr. Byte Technologies, C.B. Elite Services, and Energy Fencing represented diverse group of finalists that featured food & beverage, information technology, professional consulting services, and commercial equipment businesses. “What we witnessed was another upward trajectory of the pitches, which continues to improve with each cohort. For this cohort we spent a significant amount of time during Café Hours fine tuning growth plans, slide deck presentations, and for the first time offered the Fellows the opportunity to practice their “pitch” live at RDRC…and it showed at the semi-finals and especially today”, stated Renee McWilliams, Vice President & COO.
1st Place Winner, Jaydan Philogene, Energy Fencing
Congratulations to 1st Place Winner Jaydan Philogene, Energy Fencing, 2nd Place Winner Jessica Edouard McDonald JessPuddin 3rd Place Winner Charlene DuBarry, C B E gies
Pictured: l to r: Renee McWilliams, RDRC and Jessica Edouard McDonald, Jess Puddin, 2 Place Pitch Competition winner nd
Pictured: l to r: Jaydan Philogen, Dianna Rose and Mark Alleyne (Judges), and Michelle Stoddart, Resorts World.
to R: Renee McWilliams, RDRC and Charlene DuBarry, C..B. Elite Services, 3 Place Pitch Competition winner
Pictured L to r: Dianne Sampson-Monk, SEQBI Alumni, Jessica Edouard McDonald, Renee McWilliams
Pictured L to R: SEQBI Judges Richard Adofo, Hank Balle, Dianna Rose, and Mark Alleyne discuss selections with finalists and guests.
CONGRATULATIONSTOSEQBIWINTERCLASSOF2025
Vivian Saunders, Buy Cheap Central, Inc.
Aleeia Abraham, BlaQue Label Apparel
Bryan Carpio, Dr. Byte Technologies
Catanya Gilliam, Nana’s Love, LLC
Charlene Dubarry, C B Elite Services, Inc.
Frederick Settles, Focus Multimedia LLC
Harmony Morgan, With Harmony, LLC
James Larkins, I Am Hungry 24/7, Inc.
Jaydan Philogene, Energy Fencing, Inc.
Jessica, Edouard-McDonald, JESS PUDD’IN
Keadian Russ, Klean n Jiffy/KSOL Solutions
Kevin Blaze, Kevin Blaze, Inc.
Leticia Vaughan, Letty B Creations
Nashauri Alcendor (Gikes), G Love’s Kitchen
Norman Jones/Quincy Jones, Namron, Inc.
Tiffany Eason, Routes to Roots, Inc.
Timothy Rampiaray, Baigin, Inc.
Vanessa Holland, The Mapenzi Collection
Wanza Leftwich, The Leftwich Group
Yahaira Salinas, High Intensity Cleaning Services, LLC
About SEQBI...
Overview: The SEQBI program creates a pipeline of small businesses that are added to the Resorts World NYC and JFK Expansion ecosystems. At the end of each 10-week Session, participants have the opportunity to compete in a multi-tiered pitch competition for a chance to win $5K, $4K, or $3K. By the culmination of the program, all participants are registered to do business with Resorts World NYC, and some are on their way to attaining their MWBE certification - necessary for procurement opportunities.
Criteria: Entrepreneurs with a legally registered business for 2 or more years, who are looking to scale and do business in Southeastern Queens.
Eligible Applicants: Complete the Registration Form and attend an Info Session.
Contact: Renee McWilliams at pmcwilliams@rdrc.org or 718-327-5300. More information can be found on the SEQBI website.
YORK COLLEGE SBDC RECOGNIZED BY SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
The Small Business Administration (SBA) New York Metro District Office ecenlty announced local honorees for National Small Business Week (NSBW), which will take place this year from May 3 – 9, 2026. Each year during NSBW, the SBA recognizes exceptional small businesses across all 50 states, as well as U.S. districts and territories.
This year, York College Small Business Development Center was recognized for its innovative business development and acceleration services as the New York Metro District SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award winner.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) New York Metro District Office ecenlty announced local honorees for National Small Business Week (NSBW), which will take place this year from May 3 – 9, 2026. Each year during NSBW, the SBA recognizes exceptional small businesses across all 50 states, as well as U.S. districts and territories.
This year, York College Small Business Development Center was recognized for its innovative business development and acceleration services as the New York Metro District SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award winner.
“Harry Wells, Director of the York College SBDC and his colleagues, Brian Yueng, Oswaldo Rengifo, and Paola Bianco deserve a tremendous amount of credit for the work they do in supporting local and minority-owned businesses. They are trusted partners that have also become a key to the the success of the Southeast Business Incubator. Congratulations and continued success to Mr Wells and his team”, stated RDRC’s Kevin Alexander
Other local award winners include SecureTech Systems, LLC, New York Metro District Small Business Person of the Year and Buono Jewelers Inc., New York Metro District Small Business Manufacturer of the Year.
Business Resources!!
Applications are now open for commercial revitalization grants from the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to support New York City neighborhoods!
BID Formation Grants are available to place-based community-based development organizations (CBDOs) that are currently working with SBS and a formal steering committee that has completed and analyzed needs assessment survey data.
Up to $100,000 per year per neighborhood will be awarded to grantees for the staffing, planning, and implementation of a BID formation or expansion proposal. Applications are now open and can be accessed here via SurveyMonkey Apply. For more information read the BID Development Grant program guidelines here.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 8, 2026.
The NYC Small Business Services is offering financing up to $1,000,000 at an annual interest rate of up to 3% to eligible businesses. Closing fees apply. To be eligible to apply for the Contract Financing Fund, you must:
Have an operating business
Be applying for financing as a prime or subcontractor to use toward a contract with a City agency or City-funded entity
Click here to register with SBS and apply.
Click here to learn more.
SmallBusinessResourceForum
FREE to attend
Friday, May 22, 2026
9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. @
Federal Plaza Conference Center
26 Federal Plaza, 6th Floor, NY, NY 10278
Must register to be on the list for security The registration will be closed when it reaches 800 Maximum
One-on-One meeting
20+ U.S. Government
Agencies and 20+ NY Organizations serving Businesses
9:00am-10:00 Meet the Resources Exhibitors 10:30am-1:00pm Workshops
Room G: Selling to the Global Market
Room H: Doing Business with the Government
Room I : Starting a Business in NY/US
To receive a confirmation letter for the security, Mustsendanemailto man-li.lin@sba.gov
Subject: RSVPfor 5/22event
Name: E-mail Address:
Greater Nexus is downtown Jamaica’s first accessible and affordable shared workplace. It is a place for members to Connect, Create and Collaborate. We offer access to over 10,000 square feet of shared office space, conference and meeting rooms, a large modular training space for events/workshops with innovative equipment and technology. We also offer a podcast room with state-of-the-art equipment, wellness rooms, soundproof phone booths, virtual address/mailbox options. Members will be offered flexible month-to-month membership packages in a commuter friendly location Opens Feb 3rd!
Mon - Fri 7:00am to 8:00pm Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm Sun Closed *Closed
Small Business University Online is brought to you by Small Business Expo, America's BIGGEST business networking event. In our content-rich webinars, you will learn from industry experts on various business topics.
JFK
CALLFORLOCALTALENT
The Show at JFK Terminal 8
We are seeking local artists, performers, chefs, musicians, designers, and cultural creators to showcase their talent at The Show, Terminal 8’s premier experiential activation space.
Selected participants will have the opportunity to perform, demonstrate, exhibit, or host interactive activations that highlight the sights, sounds, and flavors of our local communities.
Who Should Apply
Musicians and live performers
Visual and digital artists
Dancers and cultural performers
Chefs and culinary creators
Designers and makers
Interactive experience creators
Showcase your talent to millions of travelers. Scan or click to apply.
Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Fund
Empire State Development (ESD) utilizing the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) has partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to create the $50 million Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Fund (ACDBE Fund) providing support to certifiedACDBE businesses seeking concession opportunities at the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and the LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
•
• How does the ACDBE Fund work?
The fund provides $50 million in loan capital to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and credit enhancements to banks to support certified ACDBEs already awarded or currently seeking airport concession opportunities at JFL or LGA. Program lenders use this capital along with matching capital from other resources to offer small business loans
Loans range from $500,000 up to $5,000,000.
Competitive interest rates, terms and fees are determined by the individual program lenders Lenders are responsible for applications and credit decisions
What can the loan funds be used for?
Typical uses of fundsareworking capital, acquisition of machinery and equipment and leasehold improvements at a NYC Airport business location
How to apply?
Confirm your ACDBE certification at https://panynj.diversitysoftware.com/
ACDBEs will need to provide proof of certification, a business plan, their financial need, and the contract or concession opportunity they are pursuing.
Contact one of the following participating lenders for application details:
Greater Jamaica Development Corp.(www.gjdc.org)
Lendistry(www lendistry com)
TruFundFinancialServices (www.trufund.org)
Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ) (www umez org)
About State Small Business Credit Initiative
TheState SmallBusiness Credit Initiative (SSBCI) is a federally funded program managed by the U S Department of Treasury. SSBCI provides funds to support programs for small businesses with the goal of providing opportunities and improving chances for success in the post-pandemic economy Learn more about NYS SSBCI programs at esd.ny.gov/ssbci
Redevelopment: Community Advisory Council & Diversity in Contracting
As part of its community outreach strategy, the Port Authority formed the composed of local elected officials, community boards, business and academic institutions, civic and nonprofit organizations, and faith leaders The council meets publicly multiple times each year to report out on construction progress,
HelpfulLinks/ClickorScanforMore:
communitydevelopment initiatives, upcoming events and opportunities for local residents, students, businesses, and more On diversity in contracting, the Port Authority has adopted a nation-leading 30% M/WBE participation goal. To monitor compliance on the JFK Redevelopment Program, the agency has retained third-party consultants from the local community The consultants review participation data to ensure its accuracy and reliability. They also generate public reports that are posted to the program website monthly
