SIDE STREET TO MAIN STREET BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

In 1996, there were very few minority-owned businesses in Middlesex County.  At the urging of the Middlesex County NAACP, the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce created the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program, and sought the financial support of Aetna, Inc., who generously funded and supported the Program for 23 years.

The Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development  Program, a one year long entrepreneurial and business development course, with a rigorous curriculum, was specifically designed to assist minority small business owners in the community, who did not have formal business training, to become more successful by developing the attitudes, skills and qualities necessary for effective business ownership and success, taking them from the Side Street to the Main Street of the business community.  Since the inception of the Program in 1997, over 278 people have graduated from the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program, and it has been a successful and effective way in which we have encouraged the development and growth of small, minority-owned businesses, which are now part of the greater Middlesex County business community.

Taught by The Essex Group Facilitator, JIM JACKSON, the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program won a number of awards since its first Program began in 1997/1998.

The 1998 Middlesex County NAACP Business Award for the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program was the first NAACP Business Award to any state Chamber of Commerce.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy honored the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program with the Vision 2000 Award as the State Model of Excellence for Minority Business Development.

In 2006, The Middlesex County NAACP’s Annual Business Award was renamed the Lawrence D. McHugh Business Award in recognition of Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce President, Larry McHugh’s ongoing commitment to minority business development.

The first recipients of the renamed award were: Aetna, Inc. for their funding and support of the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program.

Jim Jackson and David Bohy of The Essex Group for designing and facilitating the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program.

In 2007, the U.S. Small Business Administration gave its Connecticut Minority Small Business Champion Award to Jim Jackson for his work on the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program.

In 2011, the Side Street to Main Street Business & Leadership Development Program was presented with a Celebrate Connecticut! Award by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), along with a Statement of Recognition from

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, for commitment and service, promoting economic development in the State of Connecticut.

In 2012, the Side Street to Main Street Program was again honored by the Middlesex County NAACP at their annual Membership and Freedom Fund Dinner and presented with a Community Service Award “In Gratitude for Providing Entrepreneurial and Business Development Course Designed to Assist Minority Small Business Owners in Middlesex County.”

For more detailed information on Minority Entrepreneurial and Business Programs, Email: jennifer@middlesexchamber.com