In an effort to assist local businesses and residents in the city of Trenton in the wake of COVID-19, Greater Trenton is leveraging relationships and resources to bring together businesses, organizations and institutions of all sizes in varying ways to help those in need during these unprecedented times. To this end, Greater Trenton established its BHB initiative to create a private pool of capital to assist businesses and preserve jobs in Trenton. 

Thanks to funding commitments from Greater Trenton Board Member organizations including Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Princeton University, Wells Fargo Bank, Investors Bank, NJM Insurance Group, as well as non-board member financial support from The Hibbert Group and Clarke Caton Hintz, private funds will be used to assist all businesses throughout the city. 

The BHB initiative, which went into effect on May 21^st of this year, has been a key focus of Greater Trenton since the beginning of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. The program was proposed as part of an effort to help businesses in Trenton, NJ whose financial stability was negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Trenton’s City Council unanimously approved the BHB program and Trenton’s Mayor W. Reed Gusciora has also fully endorsed this initiative to support local businesses in their time of need.

The BHB initiative is a coordinated process utilizing systems in place through key collaborations supplementing the City of Trenton’s existing UEZ small business emergency loan program. Loan applications from businesses throughout the city are received and processed by Trenton’s economic development department with each completed loan application underwritten by an affiliate of New Jersey Community Capital Corporation, a federally approved CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution).

New Jersey Community Capital is also responsible for subsequent servicing of both the UEZ and BHB loans. With additional collaborations with Trenton Downtown Association and the African American Chamber of Commerce, Greater Trenton is able to leverage economies of scale to strengthen the administration, reach and impact of this assistance to ensure that businesses across the city will benefit.

In addition to a number of potential grant funding applications for BHB, Greater Trenton recently submitted a proposal for the TD Ready Challenge for a potential $550,000 as well as a $250,000 grant proposal to the Sorenson Foundation to act as a catalyst to unlock non-allocated funds and assist Trenton businesses and preserve jobs. Funding from these programs would serve as a significant way to leverage the dollars already in place to help those businesses in need and begin the process of recovery and regrowth.

“We commend Greater Trenton on creating this important Businesses Helping Businesses initiative to supplement the City’s existing loan program and offering a true public-private partnership to assist businesses of all sizes and locations within the city,” said Mayor Reed Gusciora. “During these critical times, and from day one, Greater Trenton has been an invaluable partner helping to move the city forward.”

“We appreciate the partnership with Greater Trenton and the additional funding to support even more businesses and maintain jobs, retail goods and services and vibrancy in Trenton,” said Trenton City Council President Kathy McBride. “By expanding funding opportunities to cover entities within Trenton’s broader footprint, we can help to ensure that every business has a chance to survive and succeed.”

“We are very pleased and thank the Mayor and Council for coming together to unanimously approve our Businesses Helping Businesses initiative in support of jobs and businesses across the city. Greater Trenton’s role is to work using private funding and a network of collaborative relationships to promote and create economic development initiatives that retain and create jobs and support businesses of all sizes throughout the city,” said Greater Trenton CEO George Sowa. “Economic development is key to maintaining vibrancy, vitality and opportunities for all Trenton residents. We also would like to acknowledge and thank the efforts of other non-profit entities providing meals and other critical services to residents in the city during these very difficult and uncertain times.”

Businesses interested in providing financial support to supplement the Businesses Helping Businesses program’s funding should contact George Sowa at [email protected] and Trenton businesses interested in obtaining a loan should contact Eric Maywar at [email protected].

Greater Trenton's third Annual Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration on December 8, 2020, will honor the legacy of Caren Franzini, former NJEDA CEO and one of the founders of Greater Trenton, by presenting Anthony "Skip" Cimino with the 2020 Caren Franzini Capital City Award.

Cimino, an instrumental leader in the conception and formation of Greater Trenton and friend of Caren Franzini, serves as Executive Director of the NJ General Assembly Office. He represented the 14th legislative district in the Assembly from 1988 to 1992 and later served as Commissioner of Personnel during the Jim Florio administration.

We plan on having an in-person event, but due to the uncertainty of the pandemic, we will also have a contingency plan in place which will allow for a virtual celebration. Regardless of the format, Greater Trenton is planning on an inspirational event worthy of its honoree and the remarkable legacy of Caren Franzini.

Event Co-Chairs include Leticia Ferri, Bristol Myers Squibb's global lead for the Organization for Latino Achievement and Mike Van Wagner, Vice President of Public Affairs for NJM Insurance Group.

This year's sponsors to date include Presenting Sponsors NJM Insurance Group and Bristol Myers Squibb; Developing Sponsor Investors Bank; Building Sponsors PNC, PSE&G, Janssen, and Greater Trenton Chair Emeritus Bernie Flynn; and Sustaining Sponsors AT&T, Northfield Bank, and RWJ Barnabas Health.

Currently serving as Board Chair of Princeton Area Community Foundation, Cimino was most recently a partner at the lobbying firm Kaufman Zita Group.

A native Trentonian and longtime friend of Caren Franzini, Cimino has dedicated his life’s work to improving communities in and around New Jersey’s State Capital. Prior to joining Kaufman Zita Group, Cimino was the president and chief executive of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton for five years. He’s also a former Mercer County freeholder and member of the Hamilton Township Board of Education.

A founding member of Greater Trenton, Cimino served the organization with distinction, passion and vision in various leadership roles including Board Chair, Corporate Secretary, and Chair of the Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee.

An outstanding and deeply experienced corporate, community and political leader who shines as a committed champion for the revitalization of New Jersey’s Capital City, Cimino adds to a growing roster of outstanding individuals to receive the distinguished Caren Franzini Capital City Award. Santander Bank stepping 30,000

For information on how you can join the effort to memorialize Caren’s extraordinary leadership while helping Greater Trenton revitalize our Capital City, please reach out to Bryan Evans at [email protected], call 609-473-2837 x102 or visit GreaterTrenton.org/CapitalCityAward

Letícia Ferri, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Global Lead of the Organization for Latino Achievement, joined Greater Trenton’s Board of Directors earlier this summer and has also agreed to serve as co-chair of Greater Trenton’s Caren Franzini Capital City Award Event Committee.

“We’re so pleased and excited to welcome Letícia Ferri to our Board and as co-chair of our Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration Committee,” said Greater Trenton Chair Kevin Cummings. “She brings a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives to a dynamic group of leaders working together to showcase tremendous assets, build strong collaborations and partnerships, and support economic development projects of cons­equence throughout our Capital City.”

Letícia brings a unique experience as Lead of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Organization for Latino Achievement that spans from working as a physician in the pharmaceutical industry across different global markets such as Brazil, Canada, and the United States; as a physician scientist at the University of São Paulo and University of Toronto; and as a clinician specialized in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine.

“We’re thrilled to have such a highly accomplished individual like Letícia join our Board and to also serve as the co-chair of our Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration Committee,” said Greater Trenton CEO George Sowa. “Her passion for education, diversity and inclusion speaks to the core of who we are as an organization and to all that we individually and collectively aspire to be.”

Letícia’s research and academic training includes an MD, Master of Science from Maringá State University in Brazil; Master of Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Toronto in Canada; a PhD from the University of São Paulo in Brazil; and most recently she obtained her Executive MBA from Cornell University.

“I’ve always believed that partnering with great organizations and people is critical to any successful endeavor,” said Letícia. “I am so honored to join Greater Trenton’s Board of Directors to help catalyze economic development efforts in Trenton and to also assist in leading the organization’s Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration Committee.”

Letícia’s work at Bristol Myers Squibb involves enhancing business performance by supporting the company’s objectives while simultaneously providing a platform to increase cultural awareness. Her group also fosters an understanding of how Latinos can add value to the business, provides networking and leadership development opportunities, and drives the external reputation of Bristol Myers Squibb through support of national community-based organizations representative of the Latino community.

“A heartfelt congratulations goes out to Letícia Ferri on her appointment to Greater Trenton’s Board of Directors,” said Mike Van Wagner, Vice President of Public Affairs for NJM Insurance Group. “We all look forward to having the benefit of her impressive personal and professional background, and I am especially excited to work with her as co-chairs of Greater Trenton’s Annual Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration Committee.”

With the help of dedicated board and committee members, Greater Trenton continues to expand its role in developing and revitalizing Trenton, New Jersey through collaborative partnerships and grassroots initiatives designed to attract more investment, bolster economic vitality, and improve the lives of the residents in New Jersey’s Capital City.

Greater Trenton partnered with Mercer County Community College (MCCC) earlier this month to have bilingual students and technology available to assist Trenton businesses in submitting grant applications to the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA). The NJRA portal opened on Monday, August 10, 2020 and funding for this $6 million program was provided on a first-come, first served basis with no fee required to participate.

As part of the partnership, MCCC opened its James Kerney Campus building located at 102 North Broad Street to assist applicants.

The NJRA program provided up to $10,000 for small businesses leasing space in commercial or mixed-use buildings to pay rent by providing funds to the business’ landlord on behalf of the tenant.

“Thanks to Dr. Wang, Dr. Conley and the team at MCCC for assisting in this important initiative and to Stu Bressler for his advocacy and suggestion that we partner with MCCC,” said George Sowa, Greater Trenton Chief Executive Officer. “Greater Trenton also provided funding to pay students for each application submitted on behalf of Trenton businesses.”

Charlene Richards, a 2020 graduate of Trenton Central High School, was selected to be this year’s recipient of Greater Trenton’s Annual Journalism and Communications Internship and Scholarship Program and has penned an array of stories since coming onboard in June.

“Since launching this internship and scholarship initiative last summer, we have been thoroughly impressed with the caliber of talent and professionalism displayed by these graduating Trenton Central High School students,” said Bryan Evans, Vice President at Greater Trenton. “We enjoyed working with Charlene to create more positive narratives about our resilient Capital City, but more importantly, we were happy to provide Charlene with some real-world experience that will hopefully leapfrog her career and position her for greater success.”

During her time at Trenton Central High School, Richards joined many extracurricular activities, improving her relationships with students and staff alike. She was a member of the student council, Vice President of Community Outreach and a cheerleader during all four years of her high school career.

Richards is pursuing her college education at The George Washington University this fall and was granted a scholarship package just about equal to a full ride. She is a brilliant young mind who is looking to major in journalism, and with her internship now completed at Greater Trenton, she brings invaluable real-world experience on her journey to college.

The internship and scholarship program is made possible in part through Greater Trenton’s Annual Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration, which honors the legacy of Caren Franzini, former NJEDA CEO and one of the founders of Greater Trenton.

Charlene's stories can be viewed here: