LAEDA is excited to collaborate with Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) to offer a tuition-free leadership training program that helps small businesses build capacity and resiliency for long-term sustainable growth. A self-paced program, ICCC provides entrepreneurs with the tools to develop and strengthen their growth strategy, along with access to capital to help implement that strategy.

Camden, NJ - On Thursday, June 20th, 10 talented individuals gathered in-person at the LAEDA office building on the corner of 5th and Market streets to attend the summer session of Introduction to Entrepreneurship. The jam packed seminar covers the attitudes and mindsets an entrepreneur needs, the obstacles an entrepreneur encounters, and how LAEDA can assist every entrepreneur along every step of the entrepreneurial journey. In the history of this seminar (circa January 2024), there have only been one offline session because of timing and scheduling difficulties. However, due to recent client feedback and community surveys, starting this summer, we will be mostly using an in person format for this seminar.

Rashida Padgett is the owner of Live. Eat. Be Healthy., LLC. The company offers fresh cold-pressed juice, healthy meal preps and nutrition education. Each item is prepared with love and care. The food is designed to help clients live a healthy lifestyle and feel good! We had a chance to sit down with her to ask about her experience with entrepreneurship and LAEDA's training program.

Camden, NJ- On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, LAEDA hosted the final class of its Entrepreneurship Development Training Program (EDTP) Session 99. The class brought together eight highly motivated and dedicated entrepreneurs, representing a vast variety of industries including educational consultant, multicultural hair salon, clothing boutique, wellness health services by nurse practitioner, spa services, a couple of hair braiding services, lingerie & adult novelties, exterior cleaning services and marketing services & photography. Over the course of the nine-week program, participants received 72 + hours of training from industry professionals as well as business planning education and business counseling.

Ryia Blow is the owner of Daily Dignity Day Center LLC, a place that strives to provide a warm and supportive environment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to thrive and reach their full potential. We had a chance to sit down with her to ask about her experience with entrepreneurship and LAEDA's training program.

Camden, NJ- In celebration of Small Business Week, the LAEDA Women’s Business Center (WBC) hosted representatives from the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Congressman Kim’s office, NJEDA, NJ Business Action Center, Community First Fund and The Original Hot Dog Factory during a walking tour on one Camden’s commercial corridors.

Camden, NJ - Over the course of 8 weeks, 20 students gathered online and offline to participate in LAEDA’s second ever Food Trucking 101 course. This dedicated program is aimed at budding foodpreneurs who are thinking of or who are already operating a food truck. The course covered general topics such as business plan writing, marketing, and bookkeeping alongside specific technical topics such as setting a menu, food production, food trucking laws and regulations. The curriculum provided a roadmap on how to navigate the start-up phase including costs, legal requirements, and best practices for aspiring operators.

Lemonie Mundell is the the proud founder of Pinkey's Yawd Goods, She brings the flavors of Jamaica straight to your doorstep. She provides Jamaican delicacies throughout the tri-state area. Sharing her love of Caribbean flavors with everyone. www.pinkeysyawdgoods.com We had a chance to sit down with her to ask about her experience with entrepreneurship and LAEDA's training program.

Camden, NJ- On Wednesday, March 13, 2024, LAEDA hosted the final class of its Women’s Business Academy (WBA) Session 98. The class brought together five highly motivated and dedicated entrepreneurs, representing a vast variety of industries including beauty industry, notary industry, retail store, online retail store and custom printing services. Over the course of the nine-week program, participants received 72 + hours of training from industry professionals as well as business planning education and business counseling.

Camden- On Thursday February 29, 2024 LAEDA held its virtual training called Selling to Large Corporations & Government Agencies where small businesses attended to take the guesswork out of the procurement process when they consider doing business with large corporations or government agencies. The virtual room was filled with valuable information from the following speakers: (1) Ana Villagran, Certification Auditor at The State of New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services; (2) Mariana Hinojosa, LAEDA’s Assistant Program Manager- Women’s Business Center; (3) Jamila Powell, LAEDA’s Program Manager- Women’s Business Center; (4) Merfred "Mimi" Feliz, Camden Verified Coordinator - LAEDA Business Services Center; and (5) Jennifer Ortiz, owner of Creations by Jenn.