The immigration department at the Jewish Center of Bensonhurst (JCH) could be safely called a generator of ideas. Vladimir Vishnevsky, Lyubov Mikityanskaya, Lidia Shpilskaya and other employees of the department are constantly adding new, innovative programs to the standard English language, citizenship, and social help services offered by all Jewish centers.
Several years ago, Maimonidas Medical Center started to operate under the aegis of the department, later the thriving Bensonhurst Business Club (BBC) was created. Now, the BBC and the Hebrew Free Loan Society launched a program to help small businesses, new businesses and people who want to try their hand at business.
At a press conference held in Bensonhurst, Leonard Petlach, assistant director of the Hebrew Free Loan Society, emphasized that this respectable and popular organization was created many years ago for the very purpose of supporting Jewish businessmen – to help a person establish his or her business is an important Jewish commandment. In the current recession, when so many people lost their jobs and could not find new ones, the number of new or potential businessmen has grown rapidly; others, not attracted selling their skills to others, are willing to work for themselves.
Also among Russian-Jewish immigrants, there are many people eager to launch their own businesses, especially after mass layoffs in high-tech companies. Many of them are former computer programmers, trained in a slapdash manner in half-legal "Russian" business schools, scooped up by big companies in anticipation of a "millennium virus," only to be fired later, especially after 9/11.
The Micro Enterprise Development Program: Loan-Training Mentorship was established to address their needs, combining both useful and pleasant elements. It offers a useful training course (from September to December, once a week), where representatives of respectable companies and banks and successful businessmen teach on a volunteer basis. A pleasant surprise is the free loan ($25,000) that will be granted to those who successfully finish the training. This loan can be very useful especially for the start-ups, commented BBC president Alex Teytel.
"Of course, this modest sum is not for those who are going to open up a glamorous restaurant," Teytel said, "It’s for businesses with small budgets." The participants of the program will also be connected with potential mentors – owners of big companies who are willing to share their experience with the novices. Free legal help will be also available for program graduates.
Who can take part in the new program and how can one be accepted? According to Petlach, all immigrants from the former Soviet Union, who came to the United States beginning 1976 and who have refugee or parolee status, are eligible. The application form contains
basic questions about name and address, as well as practical questions about your business interests, budget needs, profitability and personal experience.
This year, only five applicants will be accepted. If the program proves to be successful, the number of admissions will be increased. The executive committee of the Bensonhurst Business Club will choose the most worthy candidates.
Finally, there is one more requisite for all participants: They have to become members of the Bensonhurst Business Club.
