Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop announced that nearly 1,500 women have been reached through the City?s WE NYC program, a new program connecting women entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need to build a thriving business.
?Empowering and supporting women entrepreneurs will benefit our city?s growing economy and help all New Yorkers achieve their full potential,? said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. ?I am proud of the work we have done over the past year by connecting women with the tools needed to succeed and we are aiming to engage 5,000 women entrepreneurs in our programs by the end of 2018.?
In addition to reaching nearly 1,500 women, WE NYC achieved the following milestones:
256 Hours of Workshops; 140 Hours of Direct Mentoring; Launched courses on: Leadership, Credit building, Funding, Mentorships, and Networking events; Partnerships with The Huffington Post, Citi Community Development, Deutsche Bank, Grameen America, the Office of Financial Empowerment, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, among others. WE NYC Advisory Council members include Mike Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC?s Morning Joe; Joanna Coles, Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan; Sheena Wright, CEO of United Way of New York City; Heather Jassay, Senior Vice President of Etsy, among many others.
?Women-owned businesses are a key component of our city?s economic development, but often face everyday challenges that threaten their viability. Through WE NYC, we are cultivating the next generation of women entrepreneurs whose businesses will thrive, create jobs and strengthen its surrounding community. This program is an incredible opportunity for current or aspiring women entrepreneurs to pursue their own path towards financial independence,? said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo, Chair of the Committee on Women?s Issues and co-Chair of the Women?s Caucus.
