Food, Film, and Fashion Win The New York Public Library’s Top Prizes for New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition 2014, Supported by the Citi Foundation

September 8 – The New York Public Library (NYPL) and Citi today announced the winners of New York StartUP! 2014 Business Plan Competition, an annual competition managed by NYPL’s Science Industry and Business Library (SIBL) and generously funded by the Citi Foundation. The top prize of $15,000 went to Chicali R&B Concepts founded by Lennard Camarillo of Manhattan and Arlene Lozano of Queens. With the award, Chicali R&B Concepts plans to open a Chicano restaurant, Cholo Noir (www.cholonoir.com), on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The business plan for Cholo Noir was selected as the first place winner over 38 other completed plans. Camarillo and Lozano received the award from Kristin McDonough, SIBL’s director, after she acknowledged all 10 finalists in the audience.

“The Library’s StartUP! Business Plan Competition is a competitive process and one that gives all aspiring entrepreneurs the foundation they need to create a thriving business,” said Kristin McDonough, Director of SIBL. “Today’s finalists join SIBL’s community of passionate and driven businessmen and women. We are grateful to the Citi Foundation for their support, along with SIBL’s community of business advisors, experts, and mentors – all of whom make success possible.”

“Citi congratulates all of today’s winners as well as all who benefited from this year’s StartUP! Business Plan Competition”, said Eileen Auld, Director, New York Tristate Market, Citi Community Development. “Citi’s partnership with the New York Public Library in supporting this competition for the past five years is a great example of the Citi Foundation’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship opportunities worldwide.”

NYC Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer gave the keynote address at the ceremony and was joined by Camarillo, Lozano and finalists:

• Eleanor Luken and Mark Blackman received the second-place award of $7,500 for their plan to create the Harlem Independent Theater (www.thehitcinema.org), a theater showing second-run movies that also serves as a community space for local artists.
• The third-place award of $5,000 went to Autumn Adeigbo for Makoko, an African clothing line featuring beading by woman artisans in Africa (www.autumnadeigbo.com).

• James Lowery and wife Phylline Loza of Snowdow - which provides dogs protective gear in inclement weather – and Jemini Patel of Barcode5, a mobile app that allows users to access discount coupons and promotions for personal care products, each received $1,500.

Websites for Cholo Noir, the Harlem Independent Theater, and Makoko were created by students participating in Project Code, an eight-week free workshop series designed for those interested in learning about websites and coding from NYPL Tech Connect.

Nearly 500 applications were submitted to the 2014 New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition. As a requirement for consideration, entrants were required to attend an orientation, three out of four business planning workshops, and meet with expert business advisors in the course of writing their business plans. The workshops and business counseling sessions provided practical information about starting and growing a business and entrants made use of the extensive business collections and business information databases available at SIBL. The business plans were evaluated by a panel of judges representing local business development leaders from non profits and public agencies, venture capital firms and banks, and successful entrepreneurs.

Aspiring business owners can learn more about next year’s competition, New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition 2015, by visiting http://www.nypl.org/bizplan. The first orientation session will be held on October 9 at the Business Library; orientation sessions will continue at locations in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island through January 8.  Attendance at an orientation session is mandatory for those who wish to participate in the competition. In order to qualify, entrants must be 18 years of age or older; live in Manhattan, the Bronx or Staten Island as a legal resident or United States citizen; and plan to start a business in one of those boroughs.

About The Science, Industry, and Business Library

The Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL) is a premier public business library founded in 1996 with comprehensive print materials, e-resources, and services for start-ups and established businesses seeking expansion, and for job seekers from entry to executive levels. Library staff provide roving assistance and consultations, and advisory services are offered on-site by experienced business owners, career coaches, and a financial specialist.

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.

About the Citi Foundation

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress in communities around the world and focuses on initiatives that expand financial inclusion. We collaborate with best-in-class partners to create measurable economic improvements that strengthen low-income families and communities. Through a "More than Philanthropy" approach, Citi's business resources and human capital enhance our philanthropic investments and impact. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.

About Citi Community Development

Citi Community Development (CCD) is leading Citi’s commitment to achieve economic empowerment and growth for underserved individuals, families and communities by expanding access to financial products and services, and building sustainable business solutions and innovative partnerships.  Our focus areas include:  commercial and philanthropic funding; innovative financial products and services; and collaborations with institutions that expand access to financial products and services for low-income and underserved communities. For more information, please visit http://www.citicommunitydevelopment.com.