Small Businesses in Harlem Will Get a Much-Needed Boost

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Recently, a handful of small businesses in Harlem were forced to shutter, including Hue-Man Bookstore and the wine shop Harlem Vintage. And on East 116th Street, Bikram Yoga-East Harlem had to close temporarily, due to an issue with ConEd. To prevent more closures and setbacks, the Harlem Business Alliance has announced that it will put a $700,000 three-year grant toward opening a Small Business Support Center.

The center will help teach struggling local shops the tools they need to stay afloat in a competitive retail landscape, like "crucial back-office operations, including marketing, bid preparation, payroll, budgeting and strategic planning," DNAinfo reports. Regina Smith, the group's executive director, explained: "Often times we hear about it at the last minute when we might have been able to cut through the bureaucracy and provide early assistance and support."
· Harlem Business Alliance to Use Grant to Support Small Businesses [DNAinfo]
· Meet the Woman Behind Harlem's Fashion Renaissance [Racked NY]
· Neighborhood Guides: Eight of the Best Places to Shop in Harlem [Racked NY]

Harlem Business Alliance

275 Malcolm X Blvd New York, NY