When Digna Guzman started a cigar shop in Queens, Crain's Business News profiled her, calling her a woman who knows a good cigar! Since then Digna has launched several other business ventures. BCNA has provided loans for equipment and cash flow for those businesses, including the deli she currently owns and manages.

Abdoulaye Ndiaye is a refugee from Mauritania who believes in the American Dream. He used his savings and matching funds from BCNA's IDA Program to start a small retail business. Then Abdoulaye, who is constantly thinking of different ways to grow his business, used a loan from BCNA to move to a better and larger location.

A loan from BCNA provided Olga Bosio with the cash flow she needed to open the doors to Love A Lot Pre-School. Olga and her staff take pride in providing quality child care so she receives many new referrals. Olga's day care center employs over 20 full-time staff members.  

Kathy Malone is the creator of an on-line site called Brooklyn Indie Market. Her site, which provides a platform for Brooklyn artisans and designers to sell their unique products, was selected by our Techquity Award Program, which is made possible through funding from Ebay. Kathy, who is also the creator of a line of handmade apparel called Fofolle, now serves on our Advisory Committee.

Dr. Leonid Ishakov, a refugee from the Former Soviet Union, came to the US so that he could provide a better life for his wife and three children. His family enrolled in our IDA Savings Program and used their savings and the matching funds to get Leonid recertified as a doctor.  In 2010, he combined his savings with a microloan from BCNA and opened Ocean Medical P.C., a pediatric clinic in Brooklyn.

Ibrahim Ba, a refugee from Mauritania, was shocked to discover that his credit report listed over $30,000 in debts that were not his. BCNA's staff helped him report and correct the error then enrolled him in our IDA Program. He completed a course in Basics of Money and Assets and then used $8,000 from savings and match funds to invest in a car for his business.

A loan from BCNA enabled Valentina and German to pay off their high-interest credit card debt and provided much needed cash flow for their growing child care business. Valentina and German then used their IDA savings and matching funds to invest in new furniture and toys. Since working with BCNA, their income has increased by 40%.

Ravindra  is the owner of Parsons Ale House, a sports bar/lounge that features draft beer, specialty ales, and traditional American food, as well as an area to watch sports and enjoy other forms of entertainment. A loan from BCNA provided this business with the cash flow it needed to open its doors.

Natalia Gotesman has over twenty years of experience in helping her clients look their best. However it was only recently that she was able to complete her dream by opening her own beauty salon in her neighborhood in Brooklyn. Now she can use her expertise to provide the quality services she feels that the women in her community deserve. BCNA staff helped Natalia with marketing advice and a loan for equipment.

Galina Zavyalova used her IDA savings and matching funds to start G & L Alteration and Repair, which provides professional and affordable alteration and repair services in Brooklyn. As a business owner and a single parent, Galina works hard but appreciates having a flexible schedule. BCNA has made several microloans to her business to help with cash flow.

Since coming to the US, Kin Chun Tam has worked at several restaurants and grocery stores. She saved her money and was able to start Tam's Vegetables - a vegetable stand in Chinatown. Ms. Tam was selected as one of BCNA's Citi Bank-funded Woman & Co Boost Awards, which provided a cash grant to purchase a new scale and all-weather signage for her business. Ms. Tam has now expanded to a second cart and also supplies restaurants with fresh vegetables. Recently with the help of the Street Vendor's Project, we were able to help Ms. Tam decrease fines from $1,500 to $300 for a minor infraction.

BCNA offers a series of workshops covering website fundamentals, internet marketing and setting-up an on-line business. Here March 2011 workshop graduates pose with instructor Maisha Walker of Message Medium. 

When Yelena first came to BCNA, she had just started Smiles R' Us, a day care center. Several loans from BCNA over a ten year period - and a lot of hard work and dedication from Yelena and her partner - have enabled her to successfully expand to a second location as well as purchase the building in which her first business is located. Her entrepreneurship has created 35 jobs to date.