Initiatives

Business Ecosystem Navigator

The COVID-19 pandemic magnified a key problem for Bronx small businesses.

Underrepresented small business owners in the Bronx struggle to gain access to the myriad of available resources to help them thrive and grow. How do we facilitate technical assistance, access to capital, and contract opportunities at scale? 

We launched the Business Ecosystem Navigator digital platform to make it easier for small businesses and support providers to get needed information. The Ecosystem Navigator is a definitive source of information that serves to aggregate, organize, vet, and distribute data for the Bronx small business ecosystem, to accelerate recovery and move towards expanded opportunity at scale.

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Ascend New York City

Ascend is a national ecosystem composed of local networks focused on providing businesses with personalized strategies for growth. Ascend NYC is a partnership effort between Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative, Business Outreach Center Network, BOC Capital Corp. CDFI, and the City University of New York Bronx Community College.

The goal of Ascend New York City is to increase wealth opportunities for people of color and other historically underserved entrepreneurs by creating an ecosystem of support that enhances business knowledge, access to capital and procurement opportunities with public and private anchor institutions, real estate developers, and corporations.

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Ascend New York City

Ascend is a national ecosystem composed of local networks focused on providing businesses with personalized strategies for growth. Ascend NYC is a partnership effort between Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative, Business Outreach Center Network, BOC Capital Corp. CDFI, and the City University of New York Bronx Community College.

The initiative is part of JPMorgan Chase’s $150 million Small Business Forward program to help women, minority and veteran entrepreneurs.

The goal of Ascend New York City is to increase wealth opportunities for people of color and other historically underserved entrepreneurs by creating an ecosystem of support that enhances business knowledge, access to capital and procurement opportunities with public and private anchor institutions, real estate developers, and corporations.

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Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative

The Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI) has connected New Yorkers with innovative strategies to address the issues of our time. WCBDI encourages both the creation of worker cooperatives and the conversion of traditional businesses into cooperatives through specialized trainings and one-on-one services.

BCDI is a partner organization of WCBDI, providing one-on-one, specialized services focused on worker cooperative development to entrepreneurs planning to become worker cooperatives, businesses interested in converting to cooperatives, and existing worker cooperatives. Over the last six years, WCBDI has built a strong ecosystem of support for cooperatives in NYC and despite the challenges, our city now has more worker cooperatives than any other city in the U.S.

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Bringing Advanced
Manufacturing to the Bronx

For over 40 years, KD Knit Corp has been designing and creating premium knits for dance, yoga and athleisure. Now, KD Knit Corp will use its 40 years of knit expertise to develop a state-of-the-art design, development and light manufacturing facility to be located in the Bronx. The BronXchange team is helping KD Knit Corp identify space, establish meaningful partnership with community, and consulting on the development of their business plan, which values equitable economic and workforce development,  prioritizing local wealth building for Bronxites.

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Bringing Advanced
Manufacturing to the Bronx

For over 40 years, KD Knit Corp has been designing and creating premium knits for dance, yoga and athleisure. Now, KD Knit Corp will use its 40 years of knit expertise to develop a state-of-the-art design, development and light manufacturing facility to be located in the Bronx. The BronXchange team is helping KD Knit Corp identify space, establish meaningful partnership with community, and consulting on the development of their business plan, which values equitable economic and workforce development,  prioritizing local wealth building for Bronxites.

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Scaling Worker Ownership Through Industry Focused Strategy

The Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative is developing a worker-owned business in the integrated pest management (IPM) industry, aiming to capture meaningful market share to grow shared wealth and ownership for Bronxites. Working with Bronx based IPM business owners and technicians, and cooperative development and capital partners, we are creating a single, worker-owned IPM provider that can scale to meet demand. By working in sectors like IPM, that align with demand from public and private institutional purchasers, we can ensure that we are working in high-growth industries capable of sustaining worker-owned coops at scale.

Jerome Avenue Revitalization Collaborative

The Jerome Avenue Revitalization Collaborative (JARC) formed in response to the 2018 rezoning of the Jerome Avenue Corridor with the goal of bringing about inclusive economic growth for local residents, employers, and workers impacted by the rezoning. It is comprised of community residents, advocates, small business groups, and service providers in the West Bronx, including the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative.

JARC is a cross-sector place-based economic and workforce development partnership seeking to support businesses and residents impacted by the rezoning of the Jerome Avenue corridor. We provide local businesses and residents with a variety of services, including employment networks, grants for workforce development training, and advocacy. Together, we work to address systemic barriers to economic and workforce development exacerbated by rezoning through the power of community and collaboration.

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Jerome Avenue Revitalization Collaborative

The Jerome Avenue Revitalization Collaborative (JARC) formed in response to the 2018 rezoning of the Jerome Avenue Corridor with the goal of bringing about inclusive economic growth for local residents, employers, and workers impacted by the rezoning. It is comprised of community residents, advocates, small business groups, and service providers in the West Bronx, including the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative.

JARC is a cross-sector place-based economic and workforce development partnership seeking to support businesses and residents impacted by the rezoning of the Jerome Avenue corridor. We provide local businesses and residents with a variety of services, including employment networks, grants for workforce development training, and advocacy. Together, we work to address systemic barriers to economic and workforce development exacerbated by rezoning through the power of community and collaboration.

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Strategic Impact For Bronx Businesses

The Strategic Impact Grant was created by New York City’s Department of Small Business Services to execute local COVID-19 recovery support to small businesses. Over $750,000 was awarded beginning in November, 2020, targeting businesses and non-profits in the most impacted neighborhoods. As a community-based development organization, BCDI received funds, enabling the BronXchange team to conduct merchant organizing, provide technical assistance, and  increase awareness and comprehension of new city and state rules and regulations for small businesses in 5 neighborhoods. This will accelerate development of our digital platform to support businesses and communities.

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