Bashira Khan has poured her time and funds into trying to education the youth on financial literacy.
But it was not until this week that she said she felt noticed.
The Atlantic City woman's "Saving is Sexy, Make it Make Cents," is one of 65 local entrepreneurships to receive as much as $15,000 each through the city's Small Business Micro-Grant Program.
"I’ve had my business for 20 plus years, but this is the first year that someone said, ‘I see you, come and be recognized,’" she said. "I’m eternally grateful.”
A total of $900,000 in grants is funded through federal relief provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, and was designed to help small, for-profit businesses in the city to recover from the economic challenges caused by the 2020 pandemic.
Mayor Marty Small celebrated with recipients Thursday with a reception at the Island Bar at Showboat Resort.
Mayor Marty Small speaks at the reception Thursday. (Edward Lea/City of Atlantic City) “Since becoming mayor, I have made it clear that the Small administration will do our best to support the Atlantic City business community,” Small said. “We have backed that commitment by using American Rescue Plan Act funds to invest directly in our local businesses.
"What began as a $500,000 investment quickly grew when we saw the positive impact it was having across the city, leading us to nearly double our commitment,” he continued.
Small was joined by Bruce Weekes and Pamela Fields, with the city’s Division of Economic Development, along with City Council President Aaron "Sporty" Randolph, Vice President Kaleem Shabazz, business consultant Joe Molineaux and Carmen Gates on behalf of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.
“This was truly a historic program spearheaded by Mayor Marty Small that allowed the city to put capital directly into the hands of our small business owners,” Weekes said. “This reception was about supporting the entrepreneurs who received funding and recognizing the significant impact of this initiative. Years from now, we’ll be able to look back at this program and see the great things these businesses have accomplished.”
Bruce Weekes and Pamela Fields of the city's Division of Economic Development. (Edward Lea/City of Atlantic City) An estimated 200 jobs were retained and an additional 75 jobs were created as a result of the program, with more than one-third of the money going to startups, according to the city.
The program also played a key role in strengthening commercial corridors in Atlantic City, with 11 Boardwalk businesses supported and 11 Atlantic Avenue businesses receiving funding, including four startups.
“I got a couple ideas with the grant that we’re receiving," said Thomas Harris, owner of Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House. "From one, I want to work on the exterior of the property. Being this old, I want to make it a little more modern looking, so I’m really excited and I know exactly what I’m going to do with this grant. I think it’s excellent what Atlantic City is doing for small businesses.”
Three-quarters of the recipients are minority-owned, women-owned or veteran-owned businesses, and nearly half of the recipients are Black-owned businesses.
Khan's business is both Black- and woman-owned.
"This grant is going to help me tremendously because for the last 20 plus years, I’ve been spending all my own money," she said. "To be able to have the extra funding will help me focus on youth, because as a child we weren’t often talked to about money. It will help me go back and reach at-risk communities by teaching financial literacy."
The Atlantic City Division of Economic Development also is preparing to bring back the Small Business Academy next month.
The free program is designed to support residents interested in starting a new business or growing an existing one. Participants gain knowledge, resources and guidance to help turn their ideas into successful ventures.
The city will host a virtual Information Session at 6 p.m. March 25, to prospective participants get information.
