Amsterdam News Staff
South Ward Council Member John Sharpe James, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and others recently opened the Community Storefront Program at 790 Clinton Ave. in the South Ward’s Upper Clinton Hill neighborhood.
The Community Storefront Program provides an actual “real world” retail business incubator for entrepreneurs that will combine classroom instruction with hands-on retailing. This opportunity will give participants the practical training and experience necessary to learn to market their self-produced products.
Established in collaboration with the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, an independent, not-for-profit organization that supports inner-city economic development through entrepreneurship, the program participants will be chosen to take part in this 16-week, WIBO program that will teach the necessary fundamentals of entrepreneurship, leadership and business development.
“Many Newark residents seek to create their own business and become successful entrepreneurs in their own right, and we are eager to help them succeed,” Baraka said.
Participants will “set up shop” in a shared-space strip retail location and experience the full business lifecycle, from concept to market. They will also gain working knowledge of bookkeeping, corporate infrastructure, insurance, leases and contracts during their training.