On Wednesday, November 20th, Jamila Powell of the LAEDA Women’s Business Center (WBC) hosted an impactful entrepreneur networking event at Curate Noir, a local business owned by Nika and Alban Corbett. The event brought together entrepreneurs and community members, providing an opportunity to connect and share resources. Presentations from key partners, including the Small Business Administration (SBA), New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and Citizens Bank, offered valuable insights on funding, resources, and strategies for business growth.

Powell kicked off the event by welcoming everyone and stressing the importance of building a strong network of people and resources in order to build a successful business. “This evening is very special to me because I wanted to begin the process of connecting entrepreneurs to the Small Business Administration (SBA) since many people have heard of the organization but never knew about the wealth of resources they have to offer.”

Next, SBA Lending Relations Specialist Erika Pearson provided the attendees with the various resources they SBA provides ranging from their local resource partners.

Sonya Ramirez, Branch Manager at Citizens Bank, stated “The event was filled with valuable insights from expert-led mini-workshops, covering essential business strategies, grants, micro-loans, and community building. It was inspiring to witness such a strong turnout, and I’m excited to see the impact these connections and resources will have on our vibrant community. Let’s continue to support one another, build meaningful partnerships, and keep the momentum going!”

Nika and Jamila closed the event out by highlighting upcoming events throughout the community and at Curate Noir, other resources in the community that entrepreneurs can benefit from and giving time for more and more networking….
The event successfully connected attendees to a broader network of entrepreneurs and organizations, fostering collaboration and growth within the entrepreneurial community.

LAEDA has been empowering people and revitalizing the community to start and grow businesses in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Atlantic and Cumberland Counties in New Jersey. If you are ready to become an entrepreneur and or business owner, Call LAEDA at (856) 338-1177 or visit us on the Web at: www.LAEDA.com for more information.