New York City Small Business Owners and Community Leaders Convene at Wells Fargo to Collaborate on Resources
New York City Small Business Owners and Community Leaders Convene at Wells Fargo to Collaborate on Resources
NextStreet Supports Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners by offering $10,000 Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2025
PRESS CONTACT
Emily Fuder: efuder@nationalace.org
[June 12, 2025, New York, New York] – The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), in collaboration with Wells Fargo, convened small business owners, policymakers, and community leaders for a Small Business Roundtable in New York City. The event served as a critical platform to elevate the voices of entrepreneurs and discuss strategies to overcome challenges and accelerate growth.
“Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned businesses in New York City generated $72 million in annual revenues and employed 327,000 people. They contributed $13 billion in annual payroll investment,” said Susan Jin Davis, National ACE Board Member. “We need to talk about our accomplishments, achievements, investments, innovation, and resilience.”
Andrew Moy, Executive Vice President, Asian Segment Leader, Commercial Banking of Wells Fargo, also chimed in, saying, "Wells Fargo is proud to work with organizations like National ACE. We are dedicated to the work that they do to empower AAPI and all small business owners.”
In addition to the presence of Jacinta Chen, Special Advisor on Economic Development from the Office of Senator Gillibrand, the Senator had graciously left a video message for the attendees of today’s roundtable: “I want to recognize all the business owners, advocates, and community leaders who are gathered here today for your commitment to expanding economic opportunities for New York’s AAPI-owned small businesses. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to working with all of you to increase access to capital, bridge gaps in language accessibility, and foster an environment that supports AAPI economic leadership and innovation.”
This event provided the small business owners with a sense of support from their community. “We’re hungry for connection—and for more opportunities like this to build those connections. The resources exist, but many people simply don’t know about them. That’s why we need more organizations like ACE to bring communities together. These roundtables are incredibly valuable. It’s also inspiring to see role models right here among us,” said Annie Hu of Edgycated, Inc.
“National ACE does it again! They continue to open doors, and today is no exception—new resources, new faces, and exciting new opportunities. The momentum just keeps building!” said Aaron Mickens, Founder of Chizzlefit.
Likewise, attendees from the corporate side shared how beneficial it is to directly engage with small business owners in person: “These roundtables give me a rare and valuable chance to connect directly with small businesses. I don’t often get to meet with them one-on-one, so it’s a great opportunity to listen, engage, and start building real solutions together,” said Emily Lindo, Manager at NextStreet.
Key topics raised by small business owners included rising costs, artificial intelligence, access to capital, supply chain uncertainties, and tariffs. “Those in the beauty industry are very impacted by the tariff conversation. Even if the tariff wasn’t implemented, we’ve started seeing price fluctuations since January.” Ahyoung Kim, the Director of Economic Empowerment for the Asian American Federation, explained. Supply procurement and shipping are an issue.
Notable participants included Jacinta Chen, Special Advisor on Economic Development, Office of Senator Gillibrand; Ahyoung Kim, Director of Economic Empowerment, Asian American Federation; Wellington Chen, Director, Chinatown BID/Partnership; and Harry Chen, Director of Economic Development, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
During the event, NextStreet announced the new grant designed to support long-term success for small business owners and their growth. Applications for the award program are currently open through Monday, June 30, 2025, and winners will be announced in August 2025.
This roundtable is part of National ACE’s ongoing commitment to support entrepreneurs and facilitate productive conversations around the unique challenges they face. National ACE continues to provide tailored resources and programs aimed at helping small business owners access funding and grow their operations.
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About National ACE:
National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI and all small business interests and positive change on all issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. National ACE strives to do this by supporting and promoting issues that impact the small business community, improving the economic development and impact of the AAPI community, advancing coalitions, enhancing community building, and fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs and executives. National ACE provides a unified voice for the business interests of AAPIs and all small businesses nationally. Learn more at www.nationalace.org.