Brooklyn's Progress
August 2002

This past month the Fulton FIRST program participated in the annual International African Arts Festival. The festival that began as a small one-block affair of a few vendors, has grown to an event that stretched the distance from Utica Avenue to Marcus Garvey Boulevard and two hundred plus vendors registered to sell their wares over the four day period from Thursday, July 4 to Sunday, July 7. The event attracted a variety of business owners who sell African-themed art, clothing, books, and other distinctive items to thousands of visitors from all over New York City. IAAF also attracted major media coverage and radio stations WBAI, WWRL, and WLIB were in attendance as well as CBS, BET, NY1, and BCAT. It was a unique opportunity for Fulton FIRST to speak one-on-one with the residents and business people of the project area. Business owners received information about cash management and lock box services available from George Andreozzi’s Small Business Services unit at Fleet Bank. They were also advised about services available from the North Brooklyn Business Outreach Center, Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Central Brooklyn Partnership, and Pratt Area Community Council, Fulton FIRST community partners, where business owners can access technical and financial assistance in order to stabilize and grow their businesses. During the weekend-long event, Fulton FIRST was interviewed by WBAI, WWRL, and WLIB. It was the opportune time to provide detailed information about the role of the sponsors of Fulton FIRST, the community partners, and the objective of the initiative to a broad base of the communities served by Fulton FIRST.