The MCC Foundation (MCCF), a 501c(3) non-profit affiliate of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, is dedicated to identifying and fostering business education and leadership. The Foundation provides mentoring and educational opportunities.
Our resources and programs:
- Identify and examine small business issues and engage small businesses in the dialog to help service their needs.
- Inform and involve both business and government leaders to ensure the programs are visible and utilized to support business growth.
The Foundation partners with local and national partners to achieve its goals, including SeedCo, NYC Department of Small Business Services, New York Women’s Agenda, US Department of Commerce, US Department of Commerce District Export Councils, and Weissman Center for International Business at Baruch College CUNY.
Most recently in 2010 and into 2011, programs involving education and technical assistance have been run in the MWBE & LGBT arena, and export assistance for small businesses, in particular, which were supported by NY Senator, Liz Krueger and NY Congresswoman, Carolyn Maloney.
Current and Past Supporters
Programs
2006-2011 International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) www.iwecawards.com
With founding chambers from Barcelona and India, the MCC Foundation established IWEC to support the growth of women-owned businesses internationally. The Foundation hosted the IWEC Conference in NYC in 2008, and has sent 3 local women- owned business awardees to each of the annual conferences to be recognized and to make global connections. The Foundation also hosted IWEC in NYC with over 85 foreign delegates.
In addition, the MCC Foundation is spearheading the formation of the IWEC Foundation, which will be headquartered in New York City.
2010-2011 Technical Assistance for Women and Minority-Owned Small Businesses (MWBE’s)
With a grant funded by NY State Senator Liz Krueger, the MCC Foundation offered free technical assistance to women and minority-owned firms. In addition, several seminars were held to support the growth through certification and bidding opportunities at the city, state, federal and private sector levels.
2008-2012 Shop 2nd Avenue-Support for Merchants in the 2nd Avenue Subway Construction Zone www.shop2ndave.org
Since the construction of the 2nd Avenue subway began, the MCC Foundation has been engaged in supporting the small businesses in the effected corridor – from 68th – 97th Streets. The Foundation established a partnership with the MTA to promote shopping and dining through the Shop 2nd Avenue brand. Educational seminars, efforts to reduce energy consumption and costs, marketing efforts producing full page ads in local papers and handing out special Shop 2nd Avenue inserts at the subway stops, the Foundation continues to promote the branding and work with the city and MTA to reduce the burdens on the business owners.
In addition, the Foundation partnered with the MCC Community Benefit Fund to offer 2nd Ave. merchants free booths in both the 2nd & 3rd Avenue Community Benefit Festivals to gain more visibility and market their businesses.
The programs have been funded by Senator Liz Krueger, NYC Council Members Jessica Lappin and Dan Garodnick.
2010-2011 Export Assistance Program for SME’s
The MCC Foundation is offering free technical assistance and export workshops for small business owners to support their efforts to grow globally and offer goods and services. Working in conjunction with the NY Public Library (Science, Industry and Business division), US Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, Fashion Institute of Technology, Trade Commissioners Association and other organizations, the Foundation is able to lead small businesses to available resources and to offer one-on-one technical assistance and marketing research. This program is funded through an SBA grant awarded by New York City Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
The Annual World Trade Week takes place the third week every May and the Foundation has a seat on the Steering Committee. The mission of WTW is to celebrate global trade through a week of awards, events and educational workshops for small business