Finale of six-week program is a cornerstone of
M&T's celebration of U.S. Small Business Month
HARLEM, N.Y., May 11, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- A beauty consultancy, a cold-pressed juice
company, and a community gathering space were announced as the
winners of M&T Bank's (NYSE:MTB) Harlem Multicultural Small
Business Lab pitch competition, in partnership with Carver Federal
Savings Bank.
The winners, who were awarded a total of $35,000, were selected following a pitch
competition held on May 4 at the
Harlem Commonwealth Council. The winners were selected by a panel
of judges including representatives from M&T, Carver, Elevate
Digital, and consultancy, Covenant Seven, and include:
- Erica Watson, MixxTresses Hair
Collection (First Prize, $16,000)—A
firm that provides hair extensions, products, and replacement
services, as well as educates clients on the beauty and maintenance
of textured hair.
- Alton Weeks, Cellful Organics
(Second Prize, $12,000)—A
cold-pressed juice company that aims to improve focus, mental
clarity, energy, and immune systems.
- Brittany Wallace and
Catherine Buccello, The Bodega
Lounge, NYC (Third Prize, $7,000)—A
community center for creators to build fellowship, network, and
flourish personally and professionally.
In total, 60 entrepreneurs from the Harlem area participated in
the Harlem Multicultural Small Business Lab – the fifth in a series
of programs launched by M&T Bank in Buffalo in 2021 to help multicultural small
businesses access the resources and knowledge needed to grow.
"The Harlem Multicultural Small Business Lab is an example of
how M&T shows up to help the communities where we live and
work," said David Femi, head of
M&T's Multicultural Banking & Diverse Market Strategy.
"Driving community growth and small business growth goes
hand-in-hand, and I am excited about the impact these winners will
create. At M&T, we are committed to the growth and
sustainability of our diverse small businesses."
The Harlem Multicultural Small Business Lab helped entrepreneurs
deepen their business expertise and gain insights into creating
business plans, understanding credit and the underwriting process,
accessing capital, marketing, networking, and more. The program was
held each Thursday evening at the Harlem Commonwealth Council.
"The feeling is indescribable; this was such an invaluable
experience," said Erica Watson,
Owner, MixxTresses Hair Collection and first prize winner. "I feel
so elated, so motivated, and so ready to take my business to the
next level."
To learn more about M&T's efforts to support small business
diversity, please visit: M&T Multicultural Banking.
Additional Programs Putting a Spotlight on Small
Businesses
The Harlem Multicultural Small Business Lab is
among multiple M&T programs that celebrated and supported U.S.
Small Business Week (April 30-May 6)
and the bank's 338,000-plus small-business customers.
In addition to the Lab, M&T announced several ongoing small
business initiatives aimed at highlighting small businesses across
the bank's footprint, including:
M&T's new Spotlight Shop—in-branch retail pop-ups that
feature local small businesses. The first in-branch Spotlight
Shop, which was launched at M&T's Kenmore branch in Buffalo, provides a new opportunity for local
entrepreneurs to showcase their brands, reach different audiences,
and expand their customer base. M&T also hosts a complementary
virtual Spotlight Shop on its website to further expand the reach
of these small businesses. Future Spotlight Shops are planned in
Maryland, Delaware and New
York.
Learning programs focused on helping entrepreneurs launch
their companies. On Tuesday, May
23, M&T will host a webinar titled, "Small Business, Big
Ideas? Launch Your Entrepreneurial Journey," which will address the
challenges of launching a new company and provide guidance and
advice from M&T bankers and small-business owners. The webinar
is free to attend. To learn more and register, please visit:
https://smallbusinessbigideas.splashthat.com/.
About M&T Bank
M&T Bank Corporation is a
financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking
subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in
12 states across the northeastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are
provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's
Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more
information about M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.
Media Contacts:
New York Metro (NYC,
Long Island and New
Jersey):
David Samberg
(201) 368-4515
dsamberg@mtb.com
National Media and Trade Publications
Frank
Lentini
flentini@mtb.com
© 2023 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.
NMLS# 381076 Equal Housing Lender.
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SOURCE M&T Bank Corporation