Resources and Referrals

Bronx CookSpace is currently closed for renovations. We will reopen in Spring 2023.

We know it takes a lot of work to start and grow a new business. Here are some of the most common resources and partners we recommend for new entrepreneurs. This list may be updated periodically.

Business Planning and General Business Issues

Bronx Business Solutions Center
BBSC provides services to help you start, improve, or grow your business, including legal advice, financial assistance, business courses, government navigation assistance, recruitment services, and employee training. Call to make an appointment for technical assistance with an account manager.
Natalie Williams, Director
[email protected]
718-960-7916
400 E. Fordham Rd., 7th Fl.
Bronx, NY 10458
www.nyc.gov/sbs/nycbiz

Cornell Food Venture Center
CFVC provides assistance to ensure safety and stability of food products entering the marketplace including:
- Lab Analysis for pH, water activity, and Brix of food and beverage products
- Process Authority approval and Scheduled Process: Product Review, Documentation, and Process Validation
- Resources for Nutrition Analysis, Co-packers, Packaging Suppliers, Shelf-Life Studies, and More!
- Regulatory Compliance: Registration and Licensing with State and FDA agencies
- Small Scale Food Entrepreneurship: A Technical Guide for Food Ventures
- Better Process Control School: Necessary certification for Acidified and Low Acid Food manufacturers
- Food Science 101 blog
- Presentations and workshops
Dr. Ann Vegdahl
[email protected]
New York City Office:
55 Hanson Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
https://cfvc.foodscience.cals.cornell.edu/

Lehman College Small Business Development Center
SBDC helps future business-owners to plan development, connect with funding sources, prepare for e-commerce, identify avenues for exporting goods, develop marketing plans, assess invention viability, and more.
Lourdes Martinez, SBDC Business Advisor
[email protected]
718-960-8806
250 Bedford Park Blvd. West
Bronx, NY 10468
http://www.nyssbdc.org/centers/centers.aspx?centid=52

SCORE 

SCORE is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, with more than 10,000 volunteers in 300 chapters. Get paired with the right mentor to help your business thrive. 
Bronx Boro Hall Branch 
718-590-6252 
851 Grand Concourse, Room 123 
Bronx, NY, 10451 
https://www.score.org/

 

Small Food Producers Network
In addition to regular networking events, the Small Food Producers Network offers admission based seminar series lead by industry leaders, as well as one-on-one financial planning and loan-packaging assistance.
Natalie Vichnevsky
718-388-7287 x116
[email protected]
2 Kingsland Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
http://evergreenexchange.org/food-services

Start Small, Think Big
Start Small Think Big is a non-profit organization that helps low-to-moderate-income entrepreneurs with free legal, financial and marketing services through in-house experts and an extensive network of pro bono partners.
[email protected]
646-723-4053
8 W. 126th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10027
http://www.startsmallthinkbig.org/ 

Financing and Lending

Spring Bank
A community bank with its home base in the Bronx, Spring Bank works to serve small businesses that build up their communities.
718-879-5000
69 East 167th Street, Bronx, NY 10452
www.springbankny.com

Santander Bank
SBA Preferred Lender that provides loans on business lines of credit, term loans, and commercial real estate mortgages to help small businesses get financing that they might not otherwise qualify for.
718-508-1103
220 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451
www.santanderbank.com/us/business

NYC Local Lending
An initiative of Accion, Excelsior Growth Fund and Renaissance, NYC Local Lending makes it easy for local businesses to find loans from $500 to $500,000 with affordable interest rates and transparent fees and terms.
646-846-9078
[email protected]
www.locallending.nyc

You can also sign up for a free consultation on obtaining financing for your business at the Bronx Business Solutions Center - see contact info above.