Newark Alliance and EqualSpace Celebrate Halsey Street's Small Business Community

November 20, 2024

The Newark Alliance, in partnership with EqualSpace, hosted a special event to honor the thriving small business community along Halsey Street, spotlighting local Black entrepreneurs featured in Greenwood Ave. Magazine. The event brought together business owners, community leaders, and residents to celebrate the resilience and innovation shaping Newark’s future.

Ashley Mays, Chief Real Estate and Marketing Officer at Newark Alliance, emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses. “Our mission is to empower the growth of small businesses on Halsey Street and throughout the broader Arts and Education District,” she said. “We are proud to partner with Greenwood Ave. to share the stories of entrepreneurs making an impact in Newark.”

Citi Medina, Founder of EqualSpace, reflected on the significance of Halsey Street, calling it “a gem of Newark” and celebrating the culture created by the entrepreneurs there. “It’s the heartbeat that reminds us of what it means to truly be a community—united, proud, and unequivocally liberated,” Medina stated.

The event was supported by notable organizations, including Audible, Prudential Financial, and Invest Newark, all of which are committed to fostering Newark’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Ari Fox, Head of Economic Impact at Audible, expressed excitement about the city’s growth. “We’re proud to support historically underrepresented founders, especially people of color and women,” Fox said. “Newark is an exciting place to be, and we’re proud to contribute to its future.”

Local business Sweet Jeans Kitchen & Espresso Bar, featured at the event, was a recent grantee of Audible’s Business Attraction Program. Marcus Randolph, CEO of Invest Newark, concluded by emphasizing the importance of nurturing small businesses. “Creating an environment where small businesses can thrive is key to Newark’s continued growth,” Randolph said.

The celebration marked a significant moment for Newark’s entrepreneurial community, reinforcing the city’s dedication to supporting diverse, small business owners.

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