For many operating ones own business is the quintessential american dream

This federal Project Grant award of $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.753 Congressionally Recommended Awards) supports the Queens County Economic Development Corporation's (QEDC) program to assist formerly incarcerated individuals in starting and operating small businesses. The program includes recruitment, assessment, counseling, and mentorship components to address the unique challenges faced by this population, such as educational gaps, lack of entrepreneurial experience, and financial barriers. Key services provided through the grant include business skills training, specialized industry-specific instruction, and pairing participants with mentors to provide guidance and role models. The program also coordinates with local partner organizations to provide holistic support services beyond the entrepreneurship training. This 4-year grant, awarded on October 1, 2024, aims to help the formerly incarcerated overcome systemic obstacles and achieve their goal of small business ownership, which is considered the "quintessential American dream."

While attainable, IT is not without significant challenges. For those that have been incarcerated the challenges are multiplied: educational/knowledge gaps, experience, financial barriers, legal issues and support issues.education and work experiences are the biggest factors.thequeens economic development corporation (qedc) is prepared to address these obstacles through a programcomprised of the following components: recruitment, assessment, counseling, and mentorships. Working with local organizational partners that provide comprehensive services for the formerly incarcerated, we will recruit and assess their clients who desire to own and operate a small business. All clients will be required to undergo classes in basic business knowledge. Upon satisfactory completion, they would advance to specialized training in their selected interest. While we have classes in selected fields, most training will be done individually using qedc counselors. Clients will be assigned mentors. As many formerly incarcerated may not have had role models in the entrepreneurial world, we believe the mentor-client relationship is vital. During the program we will coordinate all efforts with our partner organizations that provide support in other areas of the clients life. Though this grant is finite, all those who participate will remain qedc clients beyond its term. Clients will be encouraged to take advantage of all qedc programs in services including classes, continued counseling, funding opportunities and networking events and classes.