By Rich Bockmann
What do a Springfield Gardens fitness center, an Astoria coffee shop and an environmental consulting firm in Flushing have in common?
Each is getting $10,000 to go from a business plan on paper to an actual start-up company, courtesy of the Citi Foundation and the Queens Economic Development Corp.’s annual business competition.
“StartUP! gets better and better each year, and it’s really hard to choose only three winners,” QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein said. “Congratulations to all this year’s participants, and we wish them the best of luck as they pursue their business dreams.”
Throughout the competition, more than 300 participants attended meetings at the Queens Library in Jamaica for training sessions on topics such as sales and marketing strategies and putting together financial statements.
From there, 28 teams submitted plans to Citi judges, who awarded first place in the Community Business category to Candace Woods and her health center, Fabulous Fitness NYC, which will provide yoga, Zumba, cardio, aerobics and total body workouts in Springfield Gardens.
Dennis Lee’s idea for an Astoria coffee shop that will feature beans from an artisan roaster in Columbus, Ohio, won in the Food-Based Business category.
Astoria Coffee will import its Cafe Brioso beans from Columbus, and Lee is banking that poetry readings, live music, an art gallery and free Wi-Fi will give the shop the feel of a community meeting place.
In Flushing, Maya Camou’s M3D Consulting was tops in the Innovative Business category. Camou is a LEED AP+ certified master instructor who hopes her environmental sustainability and management consulting firm can lead the way in guiding green businesses and projects.
“Citi is once again pleased to support the seventh annual StartUP! competition with a $50,000 grant from the Citi Foundation,” Eileen Auld, of Citi Community Development, said. “The Citi Foundation supports several competitions throughout New York City to encourage innovation among entrepreneurs and create jobs in communities where they are needed most.”
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
