Sen. Borrello & JCC Host Workshops to Boost Minority and Women Business Enterprise

JAMESTOWN – Sen. George Borrello and Jamestown Community College’s (JCC) Small Business Development Center have teamed up to help entrepreneurs apply for New York State Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification.

Free MWBE-certification workshops will be held Friday, May 20, at Jamestown Community College in Jamestown and at the Olean Business Development Center Hub.

“Most small businesses fail in their first year. As a small business owner myself, I know how difficult it can be to succeed,” Sen. Borrello said. “I’ve received a lot of requests for help with the MWBE-certification process. As the economy recovers from the pandemic, our downtowns are seeing a renaissance of new business growth, particularly among woman and minority entrepreneurs.”

MWBE certification yields benefits for minority and women business owners including contracting opportunities with state agencies, lending and bonding programs available only to certified MWBEs, and access to services and support, including business development workshops and webinars.

Dr. Courtney Curatolo, Ph.D., Director of JCC’s Small Business Development Center, said becoming a MWBE can help business owners increase revenue.

“It is critical that more minority and women owned businesses become certified in our region,” she said. “While the MWBE certification process can be complex, advisors at the Small Business Development Center are available to help any business owner with the application.”

The MWBE workshops will be held May 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at JCC’s Carnahan Center Theater, 241 James St., Jamestown, and May 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Olean Business Development Center Hub, 301 N. Union St., Olean.

While the workshops are free, registration is required. Please follow the below links to register:

• Jamestown MWBE Workshop.
• Olean MWBE Workshop.

You can also register by calling JCC’s Small Business Development Center at: 716-338-1024.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our downtowns. MWBE certification opens doors every minority and woman-owned business should take advantage of,” Sen. Borrello said.

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