The harlem business alliance's mission is to develop and enhance harlem's economic status by creating an environment that produces successful entrepreneurs and creates jobs for local residents

The project conforms to the cncs economic development program priority area and is a capacity building activity that will help to leverage resources. The research and HBA's experience demonstrate that helping aspiring entrepreneurs and helping to grow and sustain local businesses can provide a pathway out of poverty for harlem's residents and contribute to the economic health of the community. The project goal is to hire a vista as a fund development assistant who will help to increase the organization's fund-raising capability in order to continue to maintain existing programs and services and grow the capacity to serve harlem's lower income constituents and the community. The vista focus will involve grant funding from corporate, foundation and government sources with a particular focus on the special programs that target low income individuals as well as general operating funds; researching other potential funding avenues; and developing and maintaining a tracking system for grant related activities. This project will require the full time services of one vista for one year.