Assistance Programs
NYC Business Solutions
NYC Business Solutions is a BCC-run services center that provides FREE assistance for small businesses and anyone who is interested in starting small businesses. Please feel free to email any of the individuals below for their free respective services.
FOR FREE:
Legal Assistance: [email protected]
Financing Assistance: [email protected]
Economic Development: [email protected]
Promotional Opportunities: [email protected]
Export Assistance: [email protected]
Recruitment and Training: [email protected]
Business Courses: [email protected]
Economic Development Solutions
The Brooklyn Chamber provides a variety of economic development services. For assistance with economic development services, contact our project manager of economic development, Kat Benedetto at [email protected]. Development programs include:
Brooklyn-Made Certification:
Brooklyn-Made provides a quantitative, exclusive measurement of product authenticity that signals quality to consumers. It represents a platform for businesses to market and differentiate their products while promoting local business activity and engagement.
Export Assistance:
Brooklyn Goes Global (BGG) is the Chamber’s exporting assistance program. Through BGG, we provide technical assistance for Brooklyn businesses that are looking to export or are currently exporters. BGG helps with technical export plans assistance, guidance with export regulations/requirements and provision of customs documentation.
Note: It is very important to have a Certificate of Origin, an export document certifying what country the referenced products were produced. We're pleased to provide free Certificates of Origin to our members as a benefit of membership (or $30 per certificate for non-members).
- Complete, sign and have notarized the appropriate Certificate of Origin.
- Complete, sign and have notarized the Brooklyn Chamber Affidavit.
- Attach all original shipment invoices for all items referenced on the Certificate.
- For non-members, attach a $30 check or money order per Certificate.
Note: We also offer Certificates of Free Sale as part of our export documentation services. Also known as a Certificate of Export or Certificate to Foreign Governments, a Certificate of Free Sale is required by many countries as assurance that the products listed have submitted evidence to the issuing agent as being able to freely sell in the U.S.
- Fill out the request form
- Fill out the Certificate of Free Sale (template form), listing each product to be verified. Note: there should be no more than 50 products per Certificate of Free Sale. We will not issue Certificates of Free Sale for food products.
You can find more information about acquiring a CFS through the FDA
- Provide two invoices for every product listed on the Certificate. PLEASE NOTE, invoices provided must be for two separate U.S.-based customers. Invoices should be dated within the last 12 months.
- Fill out and sign affidavit
Note: There should be a separate Certificate of Free Sale for each country of export.
Note: Certificates of Free Sale will only be issued for companies based in NY State.
Fee: Certificates of Free Sale are free for members. For non-members, there is a $30 charge for each Certificate.
The BCC has a notary public on staff who will provide notary services to Members (free of charge) and to non-Members (for a fee of $10) seeking Certificates of Origin. If it's convenient for you, you can visit our office to have your documents notarized and drop them off with us.
Please call us at 718 875-1000 to make sure that our notary is available Please also be aware that you'll be required to present an official photo ID to our notary. If you have another notary that you prefer to use, you are encouraged to do so. If you use your own notary, please send your completed, notarized documents along with any $30/document processing fee (for non-members) to:
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Attn: Certificate of Origin
253 36th Street, Suite 4-C58
Brooklyn, NY 11232
Please allow seven to 10 business days for our staff to review your documents, process your certificate, return the endorsed certificate and your original invoices to you via U.S. Mail. Should you need your certificates returned more quickly, please email Avi Leshes at:
[email protected], or call at 718 875-1000, x105. Please be advised that there may be additional charges for expedited processing, shipping and handling.
Procurement Assistance:
Brooklyn Connects is our comprehensive procurement assistance program for Brooklyn-based vendors. The focus is to expand business opportunities for vendors (especially minority and woman-owned firms) by providing streamlined information about public contracting and purchasing opportunities while also fostering business-to-business exchanges and private sector partnerships.
Benefits include providing businesses with resources that meet their service requirements, support for vendors through access to our online/e-news bid opportunities, tech help, access to contractor training and assists minority and woman-owned businesses with the M/WBE certification process.
Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Project:
Our Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Project is focused on bringing BCC's resources and relationships to help community-based organizations improve Brooklyn’s retail districts. Through our not-for-profit affiliate, the Brooklyn Alliance, we help by partnering and identifying local businesses, community groups and relevant stakeholders, strengthening small businesses and merchant-led community organizations.
The Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Project provides resources to help businesses grow and provides organizational capacity building for the upstart or upkeep of local merchant groups. Initiatives include Merchant Organizing, advising on Business Improvement District (BID) formation, BID management services and coordinating supplemental services around sanitation, beautification, and promotion. The goals of the project are to assist developing organizational structures that are sustainable and autonomous in local commercial districts, beautify their physical conditions, gain visibility, and provide technical resources, including financing, hiring, marketing, minority certification, and developing a framework to market them as a desirable place to shop.
We also maintain positive and productive relationships with relevant stakeholders by bridging these groups as a unified voice to speak with government agencies and elected officials. We're grateful for the generosity of our current or former sponsors including: NYC Department of Small Business Services, NYC Council, NYS Assembly, NYS Senate, TD Bank, and JPMorgan Chase Foundation.
For more information, contact Avi Leshes at
[email protected] or 718-875-1000 ext. 105.
Chamber on the Go
Chamber on the Go is a van that brings BCC services to local businesses on-site. We focus on supporting and enhancing these services to maximize the impact and convenience of our assistance as well as build a healthy and robust business environment throughout Brooklyn.
Chamber on the Go has two types of services:
On-the-ground, proactive Chamber services
Businesses have access to a variety of services on location, which are designed to help them flourish and grow.
On-demand, mobile assistance
Serving as a resource for businesses struggling or having issues with a government entity.
Our van offers:
Business Solutions
Pro-bono legal, financing, recruitment and training, Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) application assistance, referrals to other government resources and support, and connections to business education courses provided by the Chamber’s Business Solutions Center.
Good Help
Businesses with available positions that have had trouble finding appropriate candidates or are unable to recruit and train employees can receive assistance through the Chamber’s Good Help program.
Affordable Care Act Navigator
Assistance with affordable health care enrollment opportunities.
Economic Development
Assists local merchants and commercial corridors with organizing, district marketing and promotion.
Explore Brooklyn
Provides publicity for businesses through the borough’s first-ever, comprehensive tourism website.
Good Help Services
Good Help is our no-cost employment service that assists businesses that are in immediate need for entry-level and skilled employees. We present pre-screened candidates recruited from a network of over 200 community-based job training and placement organizations. This saves businesses time and money and offers a diverse labor pool through a central entry point. The Good Helps Job Board is a free service that posts on all free internet job boards.
Trainings We Offer:
On-the-Job Training Program
Through this initiative, members interested in hiring persons in need of On-The-Job training may be eligible to contract with the Chamber for a partial reimbursement of employee wages while training.
Good Help on the Go
Brings direct employer services to the community.
Interview Preparation
The presentation covers all aspects of the interview process, including how to prepare for an interview, what employers look for in a candidate and résumé writing techniques, in addition to providing job search resources.
Brooklyn Metal Partnership Training Program
The employer-led Metal Works Industry Partnership & Training program provides participants with 175 hours of real- world instruction over a 12-week period. No prior metal work experience is needed. Must be 18 years or older, have OSHA certification (10 or 30), commit to a 12-week training and be available from 9am-5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The program will teach how to weld and fabricate in Brooklyn metal shops, complete metal projects and give F60 and G60 certifications with opportunities to advance to American Welding Society training (we will cover the exam costs). If you are a metal shop in Brooklyn interested in becoming an employer partner or hiring graduates, or if you’re interested in applying for the program, contact Shensise Elliott at [email protected].
If you are currently looking for employment in the Brooklyn area, click on the button below to access our job search.
Financing Assistance
If you're looking for financial assistance for your business, our NYC Business Solutions program can help you for free. We'll help identify lenders and package your loan application as well as giving you access to information to help you prepare for your loan.
We have two types of funding solutions:
The Brooklyn Fund
This fund was created from a partnership of BCC and the New York Business Development Corporation. It particularly focuses on immigrant and veteran-owned Brooklyn businesses, offering up to $350,000 backed by the U.S. government guarantees through the U.S. Small Business Administration's Community Advantage and Small Loan Advantage Programs. Interest rates range from 6-8 percent.
Excelsior Growth Fund
This not-for-profit 501(c)(3) certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury fund provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services to local underserved small businesses. The fund's core loan program, EGF SmartLoan(TM), offers up to $100,000 in loans. Their rates and terms are competitive and the process is fast. Loan can be approved within days.
For question or interest in these funds, please contact Stevenson Joseph at [email protected]
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