SBS, DVS Commissioners Expand NYC BOSS UP Program for Veteran Entrepreneurs

Dynishal Gross, Acting Director of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and New York City Department of Veterans Services (DVS);

The organization, which includes Chairman James Hendon, the K & R Moelis Family Foundation and FJC (The Charitable Trust Foundation), today announced the expansion of the NYC Boss Up Veteran Entrepreneur Program and the opening of applications for a second cohort. The program will provide up to 10 selected recipients with a $20,000 grant and enrollment in FastTrac® GrowthVenture™ for Veterans, SBS’s small business education program that helps veteran and military family entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

NYC Boss Up is a philanthropic program aimed at encouraging entrepreneurial excellence throughout New York City. The K & R Moelis Family Foundation has committed $200,000 to support the first group of veterans in 2023, providing nine veteran-owned small businesses with $20,000 each.

Following the success of the first round of the NYC Boss Up Veteran Entrepreneur Program in 2023, this year it will expand to include more than 135,000 veterans in New York City, as well as their spouses and other family members. Applicants must currently own a small business or be looking to start a business in New York City and be either a veteran of the U.S. military, a military spouse, or the child, sibling, spouse or parent of a military member who died while on active duty (a “Gold Star” family). By connecting these entrepreneurs to grant funding and access to world-class FastTrac® education programs, NYC Boss Up will prepare selected business owners to take their businesses to the next level.

Applications will be accepted until 11.59pm on Sunday 15 September 2024. To find out more about the eligibility and application process, please attend one of two online information sessions taking place at 5.30pm on both Wednesday 24 July and Tuesday 20 August. If you would like to attend, please register via the SBS Eventbrite page.

Acceptable forms of certification and identification documents can be found on the NYC Boss Up Veteran Entrepreneurship Program website.

Qualified applications will be reviewed to select a finalist, which will involve presentations and panel interviews with Acting SBS Commissioner Denisal Gross, DVS Commissioner James Hendon, veterans, charities and stakeholders in the veteran community. Applicants will be notified by 4 October 2024 if they have been selected to progress to the presentation competition.

“Veterans who bravely serve our country are our heroes, and my administration is committed to helping them live an affordable life and thrive here in New York City,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We are pleased to announce the second phase of our ‘NYC Boss Up’ program, which will provide 10 veterans and their families with $20,000 and the resources they need to grow their businesses. As our administration has led the city to multiple total job gains with the lowest unemployment rate since August 2022, we are proud that veterans continue to be part of that economic engine and will ensure they receive the support they deserve.”

“We thank the K & R Moelis Family Foundation for their incredible commitment to supporting New York City’s veteran community and their families, a commitment that is deeply shared by our Administration,” said Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce. “We are pleased that New York City’s Boss Up Veteran Entrepreneurship Program will now be available to military spouses and Gold Star families, providing them access to valuable funding and expert mentorship to build and grow their small businesses.”

“Whether it’s the corner liquor store or your favorite coffee shop, small businesses are the cornerstone of many communities in this great city,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Ann Williams-Isom. “Our Administration takes pride in supporting and boosting minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses. Extending this commitment to military spouses and Gold Star families not only helps these businesses grow, it also empowers veterans and military families and honors the sacrifices of those who have served our country. We’re grateful to SBS, DVS and all of the partnerships that made this worthwhile program possible.”

“Boss Up provides critical support for veteran entrepreneurs to build businesses that contribute to New York City’s strong economy,” said New York City Department of Small Business Services Acting Commissioner Denisal Gross. “Expanding Boss Up to military spouses and Gold Star families takes this powerful program to the next level. We thank Commissioner James Hendon and the K+R Moelis Foundation for their commitment to the veteran community, vision, support and leadership.”

“We are thrilled to see the NYC Boss Up Veteran Entrepreneurship Program, which has already proven to be a vital source of support for veteran small businesses and entrepreneurs, return in a new form,” said New York City Veterans Affairs Commissioner James Hendon. “The expansion of the program to include military spouses and Gold Star families will no doubt ensure that even more individuals in New York City’s military community have the resources and opportunities they need to make great strides in their businesses.”

“The NYC Boss Up program has already helped veterans grow their businesses throughout the city through both direct grant funding and invaluable mentorship resources, and expanding our services to military spouses and Gold Star families is an exciting opportunity to further our efforts,” said Ron Moelis, founder of NYC Boss Up. “Small businesses are the backbone of our city and key to our continued recovery. We look forward to continuing our efforts alongside our partners at Boss Up to provide New York City’s veteran community with the resources they deserve and the opportunities to see their companies thrive.”

“NYC Boss Up continues to demonstrate how collaborative philanthropy can make a huge positive difference in our community, and the inclusion of military spouses and Gold Star families in this year’s group reflects our commitment to supporting those who serve our nation,” said Sam Marks, CEO of the Charitable Foundation FJC. “FJC is pleased to partner with SBS and DVS to leverage our awards program management expertise to help the K & R Moelis Family Foundation deliver this important program.”

“Winning the Boss Up grant was a transformative milestone for Brothers Building Blocks,” said Serghio Adams, founder and president of Brothers Building Blocks and a 2023 NYC Boss Up Veterans recipient. “This grant gave us the resources and confidence to expand our outreach, innovate our programs, and positively impact the lives of more people in our community. This support helped make our vision a reality.”

“Winning Boss Up is an incredible honor,” said Vance Gorman, Jr., founder and creative director of Vanso Visual Imaging and winner of the 2023 NYC Boss Up Veterans. “The competition provided me with a valuable platform to showcase my business and get valuable feedback from industry leaders. The resources and mentorship I gained have helped accelerate the growth and development of my company.” “Winning the Boss Up competition was a transformative experience for indeHealth,” said Tsikata Apenyo, founder and CEO of indeHealth and winner of the 2023 NYC Boss Up Veterans. “Not only did it provide me with valuable resources and mentorship, it also significantly increased our visibility within the industry.”

Additionally, SBS and DVS also announced the expansion of their Veterans Business Leadership Association (VBLA) initiative to support veteran small business owners and entrepreneurs across the five boroughs through new partnerships across the public and private sectors, including LaGuardia APEX, the Banker Lab Ambassador Program and JPMorgan Chase. The VLBA offers a wide range of services to veterans, including one-on-one counseling, coaching and mentorship, M/WBE certification assistance, capital and fundraising assistance, and marketing strategies.

The expansion of VBLA and NYC Boss Up Veteran Entrepreneurship builds on the Administration’s record achievements, which come as New York City has replaced every private sector job lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and created more small businesses than any other city in history, with one-third created since 2022. Since the Administration took office, SBS has facilitated more than $265 million in funding for businesses, saved businesses more than $45 million by reducing fines and fees, educating businesses on business compliance and implementing a one-time liquor license fee, and connected more than 45,000 New Yorkers to work through the SBS Workforce 2019 program.

K & R Moelis Family Foundation

Ron Morris founded the K & R Morris Family Foundation to encourage programs that promote social mobility. Ron is co-founder and chairman of L+M Development Partners, a unique firm that goes beyond just architecture by working with community partners to create neighborhoods that consider the unique needs and lifestyles of the people who live there, and actively seeks to enrich the lives of residents through the use of private and public spaces. Ron Morris also founded the New York State Affordable Housing Association and serves as co-chair of the board of directors for Building Skills NY and as a trustee for Montefiore Hospital. His passion for entrepreneurship led him to sponsor the Wharton School’s MBA Impact Investing Network Training (MIINT) competition. As a lead investor in the winning company, he supports students in making impact investments and seeks to inspire future business students to embody socially responsible business practices. NYC Boss Up is a natural extension of Ron’s life’s work, allowing the Foundation to help more underrepresented adults realize their entrepreneurial potential.

FJC

FJC is a small public charity providing a range of charitable services to a variety of stakeholders. It manages over $380 million in funds with over 1,000 accounts including Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), financial aid, pooled giving accounts, revolving funds and many other charitable vehicles. FJC acts as an intermediary between the financial services and nonprofit sectors, allowing nonprofits and their supporters to focus on their missions rather than on operational and compliance details.

New York City Department of Veterans Services (DVS)

The mission of the New York City Department of Veterans Services is to connect, mobilize and empower New York City’s veteran community and promote purposeful lives for past and present U.S. military personnel, as well as their caregivers, survivors and families. The Department assists members of New York City’s veteran community on a variety of issues, including employment, housing, food security, health, benefits, culture and targeted assistance. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/vets, call (212) 416-5250, email connect@veterans.nyc.gov or follow us on social media @nycveterans.

New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS)

SBS unlocks economic potential and achieves economic stability for all New Yorkers by providing good jobs for New Yorkers, creating stronger businesses and building thriving neighborhoods across the five boroughs. To learn more about all SBS services, visit nyc.gov/sbs or call 888-SBS-4NYC.