Washington Heights And Inwood Development Corporation

TO SUPPORT AND FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDE ENTREPRENEURAL CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL THOSE WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, INWOOD SECTION OF NORTHERN MANHATTAN.

BUSINESS ASSITANCE -THE B0$$ PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE DELIVERY OF CAPITAL, TECHNICALASSISTANCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO BUSINESSES WITH 10 EMPLOYEES ORLESS AN ANNUAL GROSS INCOME OF LESS THAN $500,000 (MICRO ENTERPRISES).THE ORGANIZATION IS A CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIALINSTITUTION ("CDFI") AND HAS MADE OVER 370 LOANS TOTALING OVER $5.6MILLION SINCE THE LOAN PROGRAMS INCEPTION IN 1995. LOANS RANGE FROM$100 TO $50,000. TWO THIRDS OF THE LOANS HAVE GONE TO SMALL STOREFRONTBUSINESSES WITH THE BALANCE GOING TO STREET VENDORS AND IN-HOMEBUSINESSES. A THIRD OF THE LOANS GO TO STARTUP BUSINESSES. OF THE LOANSTO INDIVIDUALS, 96% HAVE GONE TO MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.THESE LOANS HAVE CREATED OVER 420 FULL-TIME JOBS AND 130 NEW BUSINESSESIN THE COMMUNITY.ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSISTANCE ASSISTS OVER 200 CLIENTS ANNUALLY WITH ONEON ONE BUSINESS COUNSELING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

OTHER PROGRAMS -LAPLAZA DE LAS AMERICAS WHIDC ADMINISTERS THE YEAR ROUND LA PLAZA DELAS AMERICAS STREET VENDORS MARKET ON WEST 175TH ST. BETWEEN WADSWORTHAND BROADWAY. LA PLAZA SERVES AS A MICRO BUSINESS "INCUBATOR" FOR UP TO50 VENDORS. THE ORGANIZATION WAS ALSO THE SPONSOR OF THE NEW PLAZA THATWAS CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE "PLAZA NYC" PROGRAM. THE NEW PEDESTRIANPLAZA IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC AND GIVES VENDORS ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY ANDWATER. THE PLAZA ALSO FEATURES TREES, LIGHTING, BENCHES, TABLES,CHAIRS, AND A FOUNTAIN. TRI-STATE REGION SPURRING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE AREA. ADMISSION IS FREE AND OVER 60,000 PEOPLE ATTEND THE FESTIVAL ANNUALLY.