New Haven and Yale have made boosting small businesses a priority, focusing specifically on increasing opportunities for Black-owned businesses.

These efforts aim to strengthen the local economy while empowering entrepreneurs of color through funding, mentorship and retail spaces. The News spoke to five Black business owners at the Shops at Yale to get their perspectives on New Haven and Yale’s relationship with Black-owned businesses.

“They understand what we’re trying to build here, and they’re not trying to keep us in a box,” said Krystina Jackson, the owner of Soulful Threads, a vintage clothing store on Chapel Street.

Cathy Graves, deputy director of economic development for the city of New Haven, said that New Haven’s many resources for small businesses — including the DNA of an Entrepreneur clinic, an eight-week program that helps people start their small businesses by establishing lines of credit — help with networking, technical assistance and outlining business plans.

Graves mentioned that the city was “excited” about increasing levels of Black-owned businesses. She estimated that around 60 percent of people who participated in their programs were minorities or women.

New Haven also partners with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to provide New Haven Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem grants for small businesses, particularly minority and women-owned. Over $2 million in small business grants have been awarded since 2022. 

“Small businesses are the economic fabric of New Haven,” said.

Alisha Crutchfield-McLean owns Bloom, a multi-concept retail store on Edgewood Avenue. She spoke with the News about taking advantage of the many resources available to small business owners, including ConnCorp and New Haven’s programs for entrepreneurs, as well as an NHE3 grant.

She also mentioned the more personal mentoring she has received from Graves since moving to New Haven from New York City in 2021. Her first meeting with Graves lasted two hours and was full of helpful information and advice.

“She didn’t have to do that, but she spent time with me anyway,” Crutchfield-McLean said about Graves, who remains a mentor for her to this day. “I didn’t even need an appointment.”

Ricky Evans, owner of Ricky D’s Ribshack on Winchester Avenue, told the News that as long as business owners are willing to put in the work, New Haven and Yale can point them in the right direction for success.

Evans said that after starting his business, he participated in a program hosted by New Haven’s Small Business Resource Center. Through the program, small business owners can listen to other entrepreneurs and city officials and connect with fellow small-business owners.

Evans said that Yale was a major help in advertising his business through radio ads and social media posts. 

“The city of New Haven and Yale provide a lot of opportunity,” Evans said.

Alexis Evans owns Juicescape, a juice shop located on Chapel Street that is just under three years old. 

Evans mentioned that while she knew of some of the resources available, it can sometimes be hard to take advantage of everything when day-to-day life as a small business owner is already so busy.

“I haven’t had that opportunity to see exactly what they offer because when you’re a business owner, trying to keep your business up and running, I really don’t have enough time to go out and check to see what the city is offering,” she said. 

Evans mentioned that she participated in Yale’s series of interviews with black business owners on WYBC local radio for Black History Month.

Lucy Ballester, co-founder of Soap-edi, opened their store’s second location on Chapel Street in 2022. She shared Ricky Evans’s sentiment, and praised Yale for their help with marketing efforts, saying it’s been a big help for their business.

“I’m hoping we’re here for a long time,” Ballester said.

Yale University Properties was established in 1966.