entrepreneurs - River View Observer

Rising Tide Capital Graduates 146 Entrepreneurs from its Community Business Academy

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:51:58 +0000

146 CBA graduates join an alumni network of 968 Rising Tide Entrepreneurs throughout New Jersey

January 19, 2015 (Jersey City) â€”Â Of the approximately 800,000 businesses in New Jersey, 700,000 are microbusinesses with five or less employees. Microbusinesses not only provide jobs for the entrepreneurs who establish them, but they also contribute to the local tax base, directly impacting the quality of life in their communities.Â Last Thursday, Rising Tide Capital, a Jersey City nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs to start businesses in underserved communities,Â graduated 146 entrepreneurs from its nationally-recognized Community Business Academy.

These new entrepreneursâ€”empowered with education and access to the support and resources they need to start or grow a successful businessâ€”joined an alumni network of 968 graduates across Northern New Jersey. The graduation ceremony was held at Saint Peterâ€s University Mac Mahon Student Center and celebrated the achievements of eight concurrent CBA classesâ€”taught in both Spanish and English–from the fall semester.

â€œIt is truly inspiring to see the progress Rising Tide Capital has made in 10 years. Not only are we graduating our 1,000th entrepreneur, but we are also currently operating our programs in two counties and five towns in English and Spanish. We have come a long way from 2006, when we only had one class of 16 students at the Urban League on MLK Drive,â€ said Jay Savulich managing director of programs.

Savulich has taught and developed content for the CBA since its inception. â€œNow that they are equipped with the skills and resources to start their business journeys, our new graduates represent hope for the future of Northern New Jerseyâ€s struggling urban corridors.â€

The evening began with a networking reception that included the graduating class of entrepreneurs and their guests, CBA alumni, local small business development organizations and funders over live music and light refreshments. During the ceremony, graduates received a Community Business Academy completion certificate and free membership into the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. Featured speakers included Virginia Bender of Saint Peterâ€s University, Rising Tide Capitalâ€s Chairman of the Board of Trustees Doug Forrester, cofounders Alex Forrester and Alfa Demmellash as well as representatives from the eight sessions of the CBA.

Hudson County resident, John Henry Soto expressed his appreciation of the program. â€œWhile I was already in business when I started the CBA, the class reallyÂ helped me tie up some loose ends and put all the pieces together. Weekly, my classmates inspired me with their knowledge and energy, while our instructor held us accountable and made it so much fun. It’s so important for us to not only grow our businesses but to get involved and help expand this program that helped us,â€ Soto said.

The CBA, offered in locations throughout Hudson and Essex Counties, teaches entrepreneurs business fundamentals including budgeting, marketing, bookkeeping and financing.Â Each CBA student receives a full-tuition waiverâ€”covered by Rising Tide Capitalâ€s funding partnersâ€”and continued business support through RTCâ€s Business Acceleration Services Program.

â€œYour journey with Rising Tide Capital doesnâ€t end here, this is just the beginning. We exist to support you to accomplish all of your goals for your businesses, your families and your communities. We believe in you! You are the engines of our economy,â€ said Alfa Demmellash co-founder and CEO of Rising Tide Capital.

Rising Tide CapitalÂ (RTC) is a Jersey City-based nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by Harvard graduates Alex Forrester and Alfa Demmellash. RTC helps entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses by providing a 12-week Community Business Academyâ€”supplemented by year-round workshops, coaching and networking events. These programs are currently offered in Spanish and in English in four cities across Northern New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Union City, and Orange Township. As of June 2014, 968 entrepreneurs have graduated from the CBA and together, they operate 459 businesses in New Jersey. RTCâ€s model of entrepreneurship development has received national recognition from President Obama to CNN Heroes.

To learn more, visitÂ www.RisingTideCapital.org.

The post Rising Tide Capital Graduates 146 Entrepreneurs from its Community Business Academy first appeared on River View Observer.

Jersey City to Kick-Off Global Entrepreneurship WeekLocally Spearheaded By Rising Tide Capital to Help Local Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Artists, Leaders, and Non-Profit Organizations

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:37:56 +0000

Jersey City to Kick-Off Global Entrepreneurship Week
JERSEY CITY – Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy is proud to announce the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Jersey City Kick-Off Celebration took place on Monday, November 16,at 10:00 a.m. at the Jersey City, City Hall Council Chambers, 280 Grove Street.
Rising Tide Capital, a local non-profit organization that provides training and coaching to entrepreneurs, is spearheading a series of events in Jersey City to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week from November 16 to 22, 2009. Jersey City will be joining communities across 75 countries to recognize entrepreneurship as a means of unleashing innovation and spurring economic growth.
A range of local businesses, government and community leaders, including the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at New Jersey City University, New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zones program and the New Jersey District Office of the SBA are participating in this year’s celebrations. Sponsors of the week include Bank of America (Lead Sponsor), Capital One (Presenting Sponsor) and Brick Haus Fitness (Junior Presenting Sponsor).
-Jersey City is the gateway to the cultural and financial capital of the world, New York City, and that is why our city continues to grow alongside its great partner across the Hudson River,” said Mayor Healy. -Our small businesses are the very backbone of our economy and I commend Rising Tide Capital for providing them with the resources and training that is vital to their success.”
For years, Rising Tide Capital, a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization based in Jersey City, New Jersey, has been dedicated to the economic empowerment of low-income communities through entrepreneurship. Their mission is to assist struggling entrepreneurs and distressed communities build strong businesses that transform lives, strengthen families and create thriving, sustainable neighborhoods.
-It is our privilege to join with so many of Jersey City’s entrepreneurs and the local agencies that support them, to highlight our entrepreneurial culture, which plays a vital role in the recovery of our local economy,â€– said Alfa Demmellash, CEO of Rising Tide Capital.
-I always look forward to welcoming new businesses to our great city,” said Mayor Healy. -These businesses give residents and visitors even greater opportunities to enjoy our vibrant and diverse city while supporting our local economy. In helping our entrepreneurs, we are creating our own local economic stimulus.”
During Global Entrepreneurship Week, various activities will take place in locations throughout Jersey City during the week, including panel discussions, free workshops, networking events, entrepreneurial showcase, market fairs. The event is open to everyone from local entrepreneurs, business owners, artists, leaders to non-profit organizations.
Founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Make Your Mark campaign, Global Entrepreneurship Week is held to inform, connect, inspire and celebrate the resilient small and micro business owners and the residents that support them.
This week will connect young people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees, non-profit leaders, government officials and more will participate in a range of activities-from online to face-to-face, and from large-scale competitions to intimate networking events.
-Our Global Entrepreneurship Week celebrations will honor the contributions made by small businesses to Jersey City’s economy. We will also recognize the important role played by government agencies and community organizations that support local entrepreneurs,” said Demmellash. -We want to energize residents around Jersey City’s diverse business culture, and to demonstrate how entrepreneurship makes a very real difference in our lives.”
Among those participating in this event are: Roberta Farber, Director of the Jersey City Urban Enterprise Zone, Alfa Demmellash, CEO of Rising Tide Capital, Sal Austin, proprietor of DGX Security, and Beverly Williams, proprietor of Bus4Us.
A complete list of events can be found at Global Entrepreneurship Week or by visiting jerseycitynj.gov or Rising Tide Capital.

The post Jersey City to Kick-Off Global Entrepreneurship WeekLocally Spearheaded By Rising Tide Capital to Help Local Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Artists, Leaders, and Non-Profit Organizations first appeared on River View Observer.