Library Celebrates 20 Years of Launching Businesses in Brooklyn Including Greenlight Bookstore, Island Pops and Bogota Latin Bistro in Ceremony at Historic Central Library
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Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Public Library’s 20th annual PowerUP! business plan competition awarded over $40,000 to aspiring entrepreneurs in a ceremony last night hosted by award-winning reporter Sally Herships, director of the audio program at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and a frequent guest host on NPR’s daily economics podcast. Dime Community Bank presented the $20,000 grand prize to Noel Gaskin, Jovon Browne, and Cheryl Culpepper for Hemp Thyself, a licensed CBD health and skin company.
PowerUP! first began in 2003, to provide businesses a helping hand after 9/11. Since then, the contest has provided over $600,000 to over 200 entrepreneurs across the borough. Many of Brooklyn’s most successful and beloved businesses launched with help from PowerUP! including Bogota Latin Bistro, Island Pops, Green in BKLYN, Brooklyn Tea, Greenlight Bookstore, and Tinsel Experiential Design, now a multi-million dollar company.
A judging panel of business owners, nonprofit leaders and academics selected the 2023 winners, awarding Hemp Thyself top prize from a field of nearly 350 entries, most of whom had no previous business experience.
“For 20 years, Brooklyn Public Library’s PowerUP! contest has served as the foundation for Brooklyn’s innovators and entrepreneurs. From Brighton Beach to Bed-Stuy, you can see the positive economic impact of PowerUP! businesses in every neighborhood in the borough,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “We extend our gratitude to Dime Community Bank for their support and a hearty congratulations to the 2023 winners.”
Second place and a prize of $10,000 was awarded to Jessica Hartman, the founder of Brooklyn Click and Connect, a second-hand Lego retail shop. Third place and a prize of $5000 was awarded to Ashely Marrero and Charles Asante for Kente Cones, a pop up ice cream shop featuring homemade flavors with fairtrade ingredients imported from Africa.
“Since 1864, Dime has been a pillar of support in New York’s communities for small business. It’s in our DNA, It’s where Dime started, and where we have stood consistently for over 159 years. We are both proud and honored to be in our 7th year as the lead sponsor of PowerUP! as a catalyst to unleash the next great generation of business leaders here in Brooklyn.” said Stuart H. Lubow, President and CEO of Dime.
In addition, five participants were recognized with merit awards and $1000 of seed money. The merit winners also pitched their ideas to the audience who voted for their favorite. Emicia Parker was awarded an additional $1000 and the audience favorite award for Empress by Emicia, a company which sells art prints and offers art therapy and education in New York City schools.
The other merit winners were: Asad Dandia for New York Narratives, a walking tour company; Rachel Kehinde for Gina Andremise, a jewelry brand specializing in backless stud earrings; Deborah Magocsi for Eat the Invaders, an artisan food company with products made from invasive plant species; and Alex Morel for Andiem apparel and equipment designed to prevent athletic injuries.
Westen Johnson and Julie Joo were the winners of the Founders Award for the Soilless System, a vertical soilless indoor gardening system.
All participants attended free classes on subjects like marketing, business finance and the utilization of library resources. They also received one-on-one business plan assistance from successful entrepreneurs and business experts.
BPL’s PowerUP! Business Plan Competition is generously supported by lead sponsor Dime Community Bank, with additional support provided by Data Axle Reference Solutions, and Ridgewood Savings Bank.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.