Pace SBDC on Grand Street

On Friday February 28th, The Grand Street BID attended a meeting focused on Small Businesses in the community and to commemorate the launch of Pace SBDC’s Satellite services in partnership with our office. The meeting was held at Grand Morelos, a longstanding business on Grand Street and Pace SBDC client, and gathered local business owners, community leaders, and key stakeholders.

Among the attendees were Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, John Mallano, District Director of the SBA’s NY District Office, Francesca Bruce & Yazan Mansi from the Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID), Andrew Flamm and Pedro Soto from the Pace SBDC, Mark Caserta from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from State Senator Julia Salazar’s office and Brooklyn Community Board 1. We were excited to celebrate Pace SBDC’s satellite services at our office with these key stakeholders (as they provide valuable support for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.), and we were also excited to share the Grand Street Passport (our ongoing local deals program) with the attendees.

In this precarious time of so much uncertainty, we appreciate Congressmember Nydia Velázquez taking the time to meet with us and our partners. We will continue to advocate for small businesses and our community as we work towards making Grand Street a better place to work, live, and visit.

If you're an entrepreneur or business owner at any stage, sign up with Pace SBDC! Their business advisors provide expert guidance in key areas such as access to financing, marketing and sales strategies, government procurement, certification programs, and business planning. Sessions are by appointment, in English or Spanish, and interested small businesses must complete the SBDC counseling request form. Visit – https://pacesbdc.org/counseling-form for more information and to register.

Eleva and Porteñas Partner to Open Mercadito

Eleva Coffee teamed up with Porteñas to open two Mercaditos! Located at 557 Lorimer, and the original Eleva Coffee location at 649 Grand Street, these small markets will offer Eleva’s direct trade coffee along with Porteñas one-of-a-kind gormet empanadas.

Brought together during the COVID crisis, the collaboration between Eleva and Porteñas is now bringing a variety of community minded, and ethically sourced drinks and treats to East Williamsburg. “Customers can stop by for a cup of freshly brewed coffee, while watching the hypnotizing rhythm of the empanada maker.”

Eleva Coffee, Yerba Mate Teas, and pantry items To-Go

Emilio Baltodano and co-owner Raffaello Van Couten’s well established Eleva Coffee, has several location in NYC and is distributed nationwide. Additionally, Eleva has raised $60K in funding and facilitated three infrastructure improvement projects in the coffee-farming communities of Peñas Blancas, Nicaragua, and Santa Palencia, Guatemala.

Founded in 2019 by three Argentinian women, Porteñas has built a devoted following. Their mission is to grow and support the diverse local community. During the peak of COVID-19 in NY, the founders worked with World Central Kitchen, founded by chef José Andrés, to serve meals for health care workers. And, after only 16 months of operations, Porteñas has been awarded the prestigious Red Backpack grant by Sara Blakely, along with grants by Facebook, NYC Small Business Solution, and the US Chamber of Small Businesses.

Stop by either location to check out this dream team! They’re offering items to bring home or to eat on the go. For your fridge, you can purchase from a variety of coffee products, frozen empanadas and Alfajores made from scratch, along with Yerba Mate teas and Fuego Mate. On the go? Have a fresh baked empanada, croissant, churro and anything from the espresso bar!