South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation

Filing Period

Apr 1, 2012 to Mar 31, 2013

Signed

Feb 13, 2014

Return Version

2012v2.3

Gross Receipts

$13,987,925

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

SoBRO continued to offer numerous programs to adult learners and/or job-seekers, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), GED Preparation, general literacy classes, and job readiness training. A highlight in this area is our new partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to provide educational and vocational training services to NYCHA residents in close proximity to the SoBRO Center. Career Development The Career Development Department provided services to over 663 individuals throughout the year. Several new programs, initiatives, partnerships, and structuring plans implemented in the 2012-2013 program year ensured that the department would continue to provide job placement services successfully to the Bronx community. SoBRO provides high quality training and job placement services in career growth sectors that ensure positive outcomes, while simultaneously addressing the needs of SoBRO customers (job seekers, businesses/employers, and funders). During the most recent program year, the department had the following outcomes: -The Jobs to Build On program achieved 60 placements per year -The Career Pathways program achieved 36 job placements this year -The Wage Subsidy program achieved 118 placements per year for over two years -The NYCHA Customer Service class served 10 individuals Adult Education Within the most recent program year, SoBRO provided adult basic education, ESOL, and GED Preparation services to 302 individuals. SoBRO also provided ESOL/CIVICS classes through funds provided by Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo. We exceeded our contractual obligations and received a combined above average and excellent ratings on program evaluations from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). In collaboration with Dr. Denise Clay (ECD Director of Education and Staff Development), Instructors were able to enhance program curricula in areas such as lesson plans.

Activity 3

The Community and Economic Development Department (CED) administers an array of programs that seek to make a lasting impact on the economic, physical, and social fabric of our community. CED provided property management services to 650 units in nine properties in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, business assistance services to over 850 clients, and entrepreneurial development services to 44 aspiring entrepreneurs. We also provided 39 NYCHA residents with financial literacy assistance. In September, SoBRO was awarded a three-year contract of $1.5 million from the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce to operate a Minority Business Center (MBC). The MBC at SoBRO will offer business development services to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), assisting them to achieve higher levels of growth and competitiveness. In collaboration with the MBDA, SoBRO's MBC staff will work to improve access to domestic and international market opportunities, foster key industry relationships, and leverage business expertise. The MBC will also provide technology assistance to educate entrepreneurs about the impact of technology on their profit margin, helping small businesses to maximize their profits and grow their businesses while staying competitive in today's business environment. Through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration of Children and Families, the Office of Community Services awarded SoBRO $472,833 over five years for a Healthy Foods Financing Initiative Project at a new Fine Fare Supermarket located in the HUB commercial district of the South Bronx and just one block from the SoBRO Center. The funding will support a portion of the construction of this full-service supermarket, which will include a variety of fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, a deli counter, baked goods, and other groceries at market prices. A section of the supermarket will also be dedicated to affordable, healthy foods, which will be complemented by the provision of free healthy recipes and classes on healthier cooking to customers. In addition, the supermarket will hire locally to fill 25 new job positions. The department offers technical assistance to business owners and entrepreneurial development programs that help clients build and maintain a successful enterprise. It also provides an extensive range of commercial and industrial business incentives through partnerships with government agencies to attract investment and ensure that existing businesses can thrive. The department continued to successfully operate many programs that have attracted thousands of jobs, hundreds of businesses, and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment to the South Bronx throughout SoBRO's history. The Procurement and Technical Assistance (PTAC) and Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) programs helped local businesses to secure lucrative government contracts. The programs provided outreach to close to 7,000 individuals and recruited 472 active clients, providing services that include but are not limited to workshops, special events, and one-on-one sessions, as well as certification applications submissions and instances of promotion. M/WBE exceeded its goals by helping 19 individuals and small businesses become certified, and providing technical assistance support to over 150 individuals and small businesses. Parallel to MWBE, our Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP) serviced 312 new and continuing participants, assisted with starting 44 new businesses, helped to retain 37 businesses, helped 29 existing businesses increase sales and helped 11 businesses to access $596,000 in financing. These, along with the Industrial Business Zone Assistance Program, through which SoBRO serves over 5,000 businesses located in all five industrial business zones in the borough, offer powerful incentives to entrepreneurs and allow our clients to access tax incentives, capital, and other benefits to weather the rec

Filer

EIN

13-2736022