Table of Contents

1. Upcoming & News
2. New Businesses Opened this Quarter!
3. 5th Cohort of Scale Up Program Starting
4. MLK Day Zoom Webinar
5. Quarterly Survey

Upcoming Events & Recent News

Links to local civic associations – things you might be interested in or need to know

• • Similar to https://www.la21philly.org/resources
  • New things? Recent things? Relevant things?
  • 3rd district is organizing “clean block happens” group together, give them a boost
  • Citizens planning institute is doing some city planning courses for residents

New Businesses Opened this Quarter!

• Sunshine Food Market Reopened! 4261 Lancaster Ave – Website
• Kevyn Michael Boutique – 4163 Lancaster Ave – Instagram
  
• SPADES Restaurant & Lounge – 4022 Lancaster Ave – Website

6th Cohort of Scale Up Program Starting

The Scale Up Program began in July 2020 and has been training entrepreneurs for close to two years.  Since its inception, it has graduated 130 students and provided technical assistance to dozens of business owners.  Our sixth cohort will begin on April 19, 2022.  For more information, or to apply, please see visit the program page.

The program’s purpose is to provide an educational framework that addresses the specific needs of entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development, and reduces structural barriers faced by minority business owners.   This program began with a question:  Why do a disproportionate amount of small and minority-owned businesses struggle and fail?  By offering educational resources, technical assistance, and consulting services, we strive to create a supportive system that is responsive to the needs of our students.   By making these tools available, we seek to establish a more equitable business environment where minority businesses can thrive.

The Scale Up Program is an initiative created by LA21-CDC and The Community College of Philadelphia’s “Power Up Your Business” program, with primary support from The City of Philadelphia’s Commerce Department. Widener University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and LISC Philadelphia also provide assistance and resources to LA21 on this program.

MLK Day Zoom Webinar

LA21 CDC (Community Development Corporation) represents businesses and organizations along the Lancaster Avenue corridor, a rich cultural, historic, and commercial hub.  In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we discussed civil rights and economic empowerment, and continuing the work needed to create a fair, equitable community.

In this session, Executive Director Kwaku Boateng reflects on LA21’s mission, and gives an overview of its entrepreneurship training program.  He is joined by Tim Daniels (Widener University), Carol de Fries (Community College of Philadelphia), Michael Lane (Univest Bank), Rob Goza (SBA), Page Huey (Community First Fund), and Lenin Agudo (Widener SBDC).

LA21CDC advocates for people and places that may have not received equal access to resources, and seeks to eliminate that disparity.  Our entrepreneurship training program is intended to make information and knowledge accessible, and assist people in achieving their goals.

Quarterly Survey

Please fill out our quarterly survey!