Party of the storefront
Brooklyn Entrepreneurs Hub
Brooklyn was built by strivers — the immigrant with a pushcart who became the family with a storefront. The Republican Party is the party of that story. Resources below, and our policy agenda after them.
Money & Know-How
Federal and city programs Brooklyn owners actually use — loans, free courses, certifications, and mentoring. All links go to the official program pages.
| Program | Type | What it does | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) Loans | Loan (federal guarantee) | The SBA’s flagship small-business loan — working capital, equipment, real estate, up to $5M through participating lenders. | sba.gov ↗ |
| SBA 504 Loans | Loan (fixed assets) | Long-term, fixed-rate financing for major assets — buying or renovating your storefront, heavy equipment — via Certified Development Companies. | sba.gov ↗ |
| SBA Microloans | Loan (up to $50K) | Small loans for startups and very small businesses, administered through nonprofit community lenders. | sba.gov ↗ |
| NYC Dept. of Small Business Services (SBS) | City programs | Free business courses, financing assistance, permit and licensing navigation, and workforce hiring help for NYC businesses. | nyc.gov/sbs ↗ |
| NYC MWBE Certification | Certification | Minority- and women-owned business enterprise certification — opens doors to city contracting. Many Brooklyn immigrant-owned businesses qualify and never apply. | nyc.gov/sbs ↗ |
| SCORE Mentoring | Free mentoring | Free, confidential mentoring from experienced business operators, plus workshops — including sessions for immigrant entrepreneurs. | score.org ↗ |
Program details change — always confirm current terms on the official pages linked above.
Plain English, official links
Step-by-Step Guides
NYC Permits & Licenses
Entity, EIN, sales tax, DCWP licenses, health and liquor permits — the paperwork between you and opening day, in order.
Read the guide →
SBA Loans, Explained
7(a), 504, and microloans — what each program is actually for, and how to prepare, find a lender, and apply.
Read the guide →
MWBE Certification
Minority- and women-owned certification opens city and state contracting. Who qualifies, what you need, and where to apply.
Read the guide →
Our policy platform
The Brooklyn Storefront Agenda
A named, specific plan for the people who keep Brooklyn's commercial corridors alive — drafted with Brooklyn merchants and refined with our elected officials.
End the Fines Racket
Small businesses shouldn't be a revenue line for the city. We fight for fine and fee reform — warnings before tickets for first-time, non-safety violations, and a sane appeals process that doesn't cost more than the fine.
Safe Retail Corridors
Shoplifting and disorder kill foot traffic. We back visible policing and real consequences on our shopping streets — from 86th Street to Avenue U to 13th Avenue — because customers who feel safe come back.
Cut the Red Tape
Permits and licenses shouldn't take longer than the lease negotiation. We push Albany and City Hall for one-stop permitting, transparent timelines, and relief from taxes that punish street-level retail — including the commercial rent tax burden.
Brooklyn Entrepreneurs Caucus
A quarterly roundtable of Brooklyn business owners — hear from our elected officials, shape the Storefront Agenda, and meet the other strivers on your corridor. Leave your email and we'll let you know when the next one is on.
You'll join the main Brooklyn GOP list — it carries small-business and Storefront Agenda news. No separate caucus list yet.