The City of Newburgh is just the latest to learn that you have to give to GET.
The Poughkeepsie-based 501(c)3 organization, Gateways to Entrepreneurial Tomorrows (GET), has helped 62 local small businesses launch in the last three years. The result of a joint study by Marist College School of Management and Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress, GET primarily serves minorities and low-income families in urban areas, guiding them to financial independence and success. GET hooks them up with “micro-loans” – up to $5,000 for start-ups, $10,000 for businesses that have been successful for one year; a mentorship program, putting newbies in touch with established businesses and with each other; business training and free confidential consulting.
A grand opening for their new location at 280 Broadway was held on Thursday, May 15. The Newburgh offices will serve as both Orange County’s command center and training space for would-be business owners.
The new location was paid for by the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, in addition to city and state funding. GET has also partnered with IBM, which furnished the offices with the latest in hardware and SME toolkits – software, business forms and training programs for small business owners.
“This is not a social experiment. This is not a feel-good experiment. This is really at the nexus of economic growth,” said GET Chairman Ed McCormick. GET currently has 154 Dutchess County projects in the works through its Poughkeepsie office. Among its success stories are Broken Chains Productions, a multi-media production company, and Daadima’s Kitchen, a purveyor of Indian delicacies.
The Newburgh operation plans to support 30 Orange County endeavors in its first year. On the list for potential development are a residential cleaning training company, a Hispanic newspaper and a school for barbers.
City of Newburgh Mayor Nicholas Valentine applauded GET’s second location selection. “What better spot than 280 Broadway? ... It’s serving the whole community from a central location,” said Valentine.
GET President Enrique Rob Lunski said GET has a five-year plan that calls for additional expansion throughout the Hudson Valley. They seek to expand into Ulster County, most likely situating a third office in the City of Kingston. “What is necessary is to have the right funding. Once we get the funding, we’ll open a new place in Kingston,” said Lunski.