LIAACC Celebrates Grant Winners And Builds Momentum Toward 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month

GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK — September 2026 — The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC) is celebrating another important example of public-private collaboration benefiting Long Island’s small business community following the announcement of the 2026 grand prize recipients of the Optimum L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant Program, an initiative made possible by Optimum Business and administered by the LIA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Long Island Association.

LIAACC has participated in the initiative alongside the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, helping expand outreach and awareness of the grant opportunity among businesses throughout Long Island.

The collaboration reflects LIAACC’s longstanding strategy of connecting entrepreneurs with corporations, government agencies, financial resources and business-development organizations capable of helping companies grow.

TWO LONG ISLAND BUSINESSES RECEIVE $20,000 GRAND PRIZES

In September, Optimum Business and the LIA Foundation announced two 2026 grand prize recipients, with each business receiving a $20,000 grant plus a $5,000 television advertising campaign from Optimum Media.

Barber & Beauty Institute of New York — Hempstead, Nassau County
The accredited barber school plans to use its $20,000 grant to invest in updated professional training equipment, student resources, instructional technology and expanded community outreach.

Balance Mental Health Counseling — Huntington, Suffolk County
The minority- and women-owned business plans to use its $20,000 grant toward installation of a handicap-accessible ramp as part of improvements designed to make its property fully ADA accessible.

Earlier in 2026, 40 Long Island small businesses were selected to receive $5,000 grants through the third annual L.O.C.A.L. program.

Since the program began in 2024, Optimum Business and the LIA Foundation report that the initiative has awarded nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in grants to more than 130 Long Island small businesses.

The program is a powerful example of what can happen when corporations, business organizations and community institutions work collaboratively to strengthen the small business ecosystem.

LIAACC: CAPITAL IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF SMALL BUSINESS

“This grant program, founded by Optimum Business in partnership with the Long Island Association, Inc., the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Inc., contributes to the sustainability of Long Island’s ecosystem by injecting capital into the regional economy,” said Phil Andrews, President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

“Capital is the lifeblood of businesses in the region, and companies such as Optimum are to be applauded for making a significant difference in shaping the region’s economy.”

For LIAACC, the L.O.C.A.L. Grant Program is part of a much broader history of partnerships designed to bring resources directly to entrepreneurs.

A HISTORY OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITY

Throughout its history, LIAACC has worked to serve as a bridge connecting minority-owned and small businesses to resources that may otherwise be difficult to identify or access.

L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant Program — LIAACC collaborates with the Long Island Association, LIA Foundation, Optimum Business and Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to broaden outreach and connect businesses with grant opportunities.

Long Island Association Small Business Support Program — Launched in 2022, the initiative brought the Long Island Association, LIAACC and Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce together to provide enhanced support to Long Island small businesses, including joint meetings, information sharing, advocacy and connections to business resources.

SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program — LIAACC participated as a “spoke” organization through the U.S. Black Chambers Community Economic Development Corporation under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s national Community Navigator initiative. The program was designed to reduce barriers facing underserved entrepreneurs and connect small and microbusinesses to critical resources.

Trellus JumpSMART Grant Initiative — LIAACC partnered with Trellus Same-Day Local Delivery & Marketplace in an initiative involving $125,000 in JumpSMART grant funding for Suffolk County small businesses.

National Small Business Week — LIAACC has expanded its business-development programming through National Small Business Week activities on Long Island, bringing greater attention to entrepreneurship, business education and economic opportunity.

These partnerships complement the Chamber’s year-round workshops, business boot camps, procurement programs, networking opportunities, leadership development initiatives, technical assistance and advocacy.

MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF CHAMBER IMPACT

Founded in 2010, LIAACC has grown into what it identifies as New York State’s largest African American Chamber of Commerce, while developing a regional platform for minority entrepreneurship and small business development.

Over its first 15 years, the Chamber reports that it has:

Assisted more than 1,500 small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Presented hundreds of workshops, seminars, conferences, networking programs and business-development activities.

Helped facilitate millions of dollars in business opportunities, contracts and economic activity.

Developed partnerships with corporations, government agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Expanded advocacy and procurement awareness for minority-owned businesses.

Been recognized as a finalist for the U.S. Black Chambers Chamber of the Year.

Been recognized by U.S. Black Chambers as a Spoke of the Month during its participation in the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program.

Developed signature initiatives including Minority Enterprise Development Month, National Small Business Week programs, Small Business Boot Camps, leadership conferences, business expos and networking platforms.

The Chamber’s work continues to center around several fundamental needs of entrepreneurs: access to capital, access to contracts, education, technical assistance, relationships, advocacy and opportunity.

NEXT UP: 2026 MINORITY ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT MONTH

LIAACC will carry that mission forward with the upcoming opening of its 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month activities.

FIRST DAY OF ACTIVITIES
Thursday, October 8, 2026
6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Town of Hempstead Pavilion
One Washington Street
Hempstead, New York 11550

Register for 1st Day of Minority Enterprise Development Month by clicking on link here: liaacc.org/events-list/

2026 Theme: “Building Legacy, Expanding Opportunity, and Advancing Minority Enterprise”

The October 8 program will bring together entrepreneurs, government officials, corporate representatives, procurement and supplier-diversity professionals, educational institutions, nonprofit leaders and business-development organizations.

Confirmed speakers include:

Dilip Chauhan — Deputy Chief Business Diversity Officer and Senior Advisor for MWBE Business Opportunities, NYC Mayor’s Office of MWBE

Jason M. Clark, Esq. — Executive Vice President, Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development, Empire State Development

Orville Abrahams — Deputy Commissioner, Business Advocacy and Engagement, New York State Department of Labor

Jimmy Alty — Manager, Supplier Diversity, PSEG Long Island

Lauren Linakis — Assistant Director, Farmingdale State College

Nancy Soko-Askew — Executive Director, The Women’s Venture Fund

The program is designed to connect entrepreneurs with information and relationships involving access to capital, MWBE opportunities, government contracting, supplier diversity, workforce resources, business development and long-term growth.

FROM GRANTS TO CONTRACTS — BUILDING AN ECOSYSTEM FOR BUSINESS GROWTH

LIAACC believes the Optimum L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant Program and Minority Enterprise Development Month illustrate two sides of the same economic-development strategy: businesses need both immediate resources and long-term pathways to growth.

Grant capital can help an entrepreneur purchase equipment, improve a facility, expand marketing or increase capacity. Education, procurement opportunities, strategic relationships and technical assistance can then help that business pursue larger opportunities and build sustainability.

“Our objective is to build an ecosystem where small and minority-owned businesses are not simply informed about opportunities after they happen, but are connected early enough to prepare, compete and participate,” Andrews said. “The Optimum grant initiative demonstrates the power of partnership, and Minority Enterprise Development Month gives us another opportunity to bring the people, institutions and resources that drive economic opportunity directly to the business community.”

CALL TO ACTION

LIAACC encourages small businesses, minority- and women-owned enterprises, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, procurement professionals, financial institutions, government agencies, nonprofits and community stakeholders throughout Long Island and the New York metropolitan region to participate in the Chamber’s 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month activities.

The Chamber is also encouraging corporations and institutions to continue investing in partnerships, grant programs, supplier-diversity initiatives and technical-assistance programs that put tangible resources into the hands of entrepreneurs.

Partnership creates access. Access creates opportunity. Opportunity creates stronger businesses, jobs and communities.

ABOUT: LONG ISLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.

Founded in 2010, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is a business advocacy and economic-development organization serving entrepreneurs, professionals, small businesses and minority-owned enterprises. Through business education, networking, advocacy, technical assistance, access-to-capital initiatives, procurement awareness and strategic partnerships, LIAACC works to strengthen businesses and the communities they serve.

MED Month Registration and Chamber Programs: https://liaacc.org/events-list/

Media / Partnership / Membership Inquiries: Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. | Garden City, New York

SOURCE NOTES

Optimum Business 2026 L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant Program

Long Island Association & LIA Foundation

Event partners: Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Inc.