The Queens Economic Development Corporation in the upcoming weeks will offer free certification opportunities to minority and women business owners who want to get more clients. The QEDC will also facilitate a “Boot Camp” on financing and marketing.
Minority and Women Owner Certification
QEDC’s M/WBE (Minority/Women Business Enterprise) Certification Workshop will
help participants register with New York City and New York State as minority- or
woman-owned businesses. Open to those who have been in business for at least one year,
this certification is a great way to attract public agencies as clients, and Empire State
Development Corporation representatives will be on hand to provide information on the
certification and procurement process.
Colombia native Amparo Connors, president of Allied Personnel Services in Forest Hills,
obtained the M/WBE classification in 2007. Soon thereafter, she got her second-biggest
contract with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, which had found her on a federal
M/WBE database.
The workshops will take place from 10 a.m. to noon as follows: Jan. 26, Queens
Chamber of Commerce, Bulova Center, 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Ste. 140, Jackson Heights;
Feb. 11, Assemblywoman Grace Meng’s Office, 136-20 38th Ave., Ste. 10A, Flushing;
and Feb. 23, Queens Chamber of Commerce, Bulova Center, 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Ste.
140, Jackson Heights.
Financial Boot Camp
QEDC’s other training sessions, entitled “Financial Projections Boot Camp 101,” will
consist of three classes. The first one deals with the theoretical principles of financial
projections, and participants will learn about such issues as best business practices and
common pitfalls. The second class will revolve around the case study of a business that
sells products and services, looking at projections for annual, quarterly and monthly
periods. During the third class, participants will develop and work on their own business
projections, using the case study as a model.
Open to individuals who are in the business world, Boot Camp 101 will also help
attendees become more familiar and comfortable with Microsoft Excel through the use of
financial statement templates. There is a $75 fee for Boot Camp 101, which will take
place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on three Wednesdays — Feb. 1, 8 and 15 — at the
Entrepreneur Space, 36-46 37th St. in Long Island City.
For more information or to register, call 718-263-0546 or go to www.queensny.org.