Stephanie Addenbrooke Photo
Clyde Thompson had a new visitor to his barber’s shop on Dixwell Ave Friday afternoon: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. While he could not convince the senator to stay to get his hair trimmed, together they launched plans to improve access for small businesses in the city.
Thompson (at right in photo) recently acquired Reaves Barber Shop, a business that has been in New Haven since 1959. (Read about that here.) Standing proudly in front of the shop, he was joined by Mayor Toni Harp and Sen. Murphy (at left in photo) to help promote New Haven’s newest commitment to small businesses.
“Small businesses change lives,” he said.
The event served as an announcement that the city has taken a “pledge” toward the White House’s entrepreneur-focused initiative called Startup in a Day. The goal: to make it easier for small businesses to get off the ground and receive their permit from the city. The mission: to provide entrepreneurs with online tools, which will allow them to begin applying for these permits in 24 hours.
It’s an audacious goal, Murphy admitted. Now is the time to celebrate audacious goals, he added, alluding to the Supreme Court’s decision earlier in the day to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
Harp presented the city’s formal pledge toward the initiative, and said that the city will apply for one of the prizes the initiative is offering. The competition is open to all local governments in the U.S., as well as all registered Native American, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian communities, and will award $1.5 million in grant money to over 25 municipalities across the country.
Murphy said that New Haven is one of the first cities in the country to make a formal pledge toward the initiative. He said he hopes to bring back good news of a successful grant application in the late summer.
He added that he hopes small businesses provide a solution to the state’s unemployment rates, adding that two thirds of new jobs are created in this way.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of New Haven,” Murphy said.
Harp added that small business currently provides half of the city’s jobs in the private sector, with the number continuing to grow, especially because small businesses are more likely to hire from within the local area and thus keep money within the local economy.
“In the foreseeable future, small business will be the foundation of an economically vibrant community,” Harp said.
Thompson,praised the work of Jackie James, former alder and director of the city’s new Small Business Academy in the city down the street on Dixwell. (Click here to read about that.)
He said the grant would help the Dixwell Avenue-based academy improve its services and encourage city entrepreneurs to get their feet wet and start a business.
The federal Small Business Administration will make a decision regarding New Haven’s grant application by the end of the summer.
Murphy offers a government lesson to Dixwell kids.
Before leaving town, Murphy popped in for a visit at the Small Business Academy.
Election time snake-Oil being sold.
Clyde Thompson had a new visitor to his barber's shop on Dixwell Ave Friday afternoon: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. While he could not convince the senator to stay to get his hair trimmed, together they launched plans to improve access for small businesses in the city.
If white people were dependent on others, they would not be as successful as they are today. If Japan were dependent on other countries, she would not be as successful as she is today. As long as the Negro is dependent on other groups, he will remain the lowest down-----MARCUS GARVEY
Murphy said that New Haven is one of the first cities in the country to make a formal pledge toward the initiative. He said he hopes to bring back good news of a successful grant application in the late summer.
The white liberal differs from the white conservative only in one way. The liberal is more deceitful than the conservative. The liberal is more hypocritical than the conservative. Both want power, but the white liberal is the one who has perfected the art of posing as the Negro's friend and benefactor, and by winning the friendship and support of the Negro, the white liberal is able to use the Negro as a pawn or tool in this political football game. Politically the American Negro is nothing but a football, and the white liberals control this mentally dead ball. Through tricks of tokenism and false promises, and they have the willing cooperation of Negro leaders. These leaders sell out our people for just a few crumbs of token recognition and token gains-----MALCOLM X ( from his speech called, God's Judgment of White America)
Hey Senator Chris Murphy you want to help Black people.Help pass This.
The Case for Reparations
http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631/