Jersey City Entrepreneur Stephanie Romano is Semi-Finalist in The Start Something Challenge!

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 20:34:12 +0000

July 21, 2014 – JERSEY CITY, NJ – Stephanie Romano, owner of the local Jersey City basedÂ business TRAASH, has advanced to the semi-final round of this yearâ€s Start SomethingÂ Challenge organized by Rising Tide Capital. The Start Something Challenge (SSC) is a

statewide pitch competition and business strengthening opportunity for New Jersey Â entrepreneurs.Â

To enter, Romano had to create a video that could convey her business brand in just 30Â seconds. With over 1000 views, her video titled â€œInspiring Creativity Through Reuseâ€, qualifiedÂ to move on to the semi-finalist round which was awarded to the top 30 entries.

Since 2012, Stephanie has been reusing and repurposing unwanted materials into newÂ merchandise. This year she wants to expand and open a reuse shop in Jersey City. “AfterÂ visiting the East Bay Depot Center for Reuse in California my dream became to open up my

own reuse shop here in Jersey City.â€ Romano felt that since she was already diverting waste Â from landfills on a small scale with the items she was making that a reuse shop could do theÂ same thing on a larger scale and could involve other artists and the community. Earlier this

year she took the first step toward making her dream come true by renting studio space at theÂ newly opened Merseles Studios on Newark Avenue. One side of the studio is for sewing and

creating while the other is lined with shelves full of donated supplies like yarn, ribbon, beads,Â canvas, and even a bin full of disposable camera cases! Stephanie says, â€œIf I win, I will use theÂ grant money to help get the reuse shop off the ground. As of right now the shop is only openÂ during special events but I want to make it more accessible in the near future. I am also inÂ need of an industrial sewing machine in order to keep up with my craft and to create a newÂ product line.â€

For the next round, visitors can go on once a day to vote for TRAASH in the Arts, Craft &Â Entertainment category on the SSC website: http://startsomethingnj.risingtidecapital.org/Â vote_arts_craft_entertainment.html. Once the voting ends on July 27, only 10 semifinalists will Â move on to the final round for a chance to win one of three business grants. Romano’s goal isÂ to get over 1000 votes so she can move on to the final round where she will get to convey her

passion for inspiring reuse to a panel of judges.

The TRAASH Reuse Shoppe + Studio will be open as part of JC Fridays on September 5, 2014. !

For additional information visit www.traash.org. Follow TRAASH on Facebook a

The post Jersey City Entrepreneur Stephanie Romano is Semi-Finalist in The Start Something Challenge! 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.

Rising Tide Capital - River View Observer

Jersey City Entrepreneur Stephanie Romano is Semi-Finalist in The Start Something Challenge!

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