NYCHA’s Food Business Pathways Program Celebrates 300+ Graduates with New Cohort
In December, NYCHA celebrated the graduation of its latest cohort of 26 participants from the Food Business Pathways (FBP) program, which has been instrumental in providing NYCHA residents and Section 8 voucher holders with the tools and knowledge to start and grow successful food-based businesses.
The free 10-week program is a collaboration between NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) and various contracted training providers. It aims to empower participants with culinary business skills, including business coaching, financial planning, and assistance with registrations and necessary certifications to enter the competitive food industry.
“The program supports NYCHA residents and Section 8 voucher holders as they harness existing culinary talents by instilling in them critical business know-how so they can be successful in a competitive industry,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “We are extremely proud of all our Food Business Pathways graduates and wish them the best of luck as they take the next step in feeding and serving communities throughout New York City.”
FBP was launched in 2014, and with the graduation of cohort 11, 321 NYCHA public housing and Section 8 residents have now completed the program. Ray King and Daisy Dejesus are two recent graduates who are grateful for the knowledge and resources gained through the program.
Ray King is a Gravesend Houses resident and owner of Royal V Eats, her food business dedicated to adaptogenic and whole foods that improve mental and physical health. Ms. King believes deeply in the connection between food and mental health and plans to soon begin hosting workshops that address the body, mind, and soul: “People in our neighborhoods suffer from physical and mental illnesses. There’s a brain and gut health correlation, and while food is not the cure, it does aid in the process of helping health overall.”
Ms. King has been catering and hosting brunches since 2021, but decided to sign up for FBP “because I knew I didn’t have all the tools to run a business successfully based on what I was experiencing. Not that my business was going bad, but I didn’t have the knowledge to get me to where I needed to go.”
One of the most important things she learned in the program was how to create a business plan: “I had a story behind my business, but I wasn’t able to fully envision it until I structured the problem and the solution in the business plan – it allowed me to understand my mission better and fully articulate what it is I want to do.”
FBP participants receive comprehensive business education, including individualized coaching on menu development, pricing strategies, and business registration. Graduates also gain access to commercial kitchen incubators, making it easier to launch and scale their businesses. To date, 204 graduates have successfully registered their businesses with the New York State Division of Corporations, and 44 have received scholarships for kitchen space.
In addition to practical training, the program provides graduates with ongoing support, including workshops, business development resources, and opportunities for market access and contracting. This comprehensive support system helps ensure that participants are not just starting businesses but building long-term careers.
With help from the FBP program, graduate Daisy Dejesus is working on getting her food handler’s license and any additional licenses she may need to gain access to a commercial kitchen. She is a Bronx Section 8 resident and the owner of Bake Me Happy LLC, which specializes in custom cakes and cupcakes. She started baking in 2018 after seeing a recipe on YouTube she wanted to try: “I really enjoyed the process, and it felt tranquil to me. It’s fun and fascinating to put ingredients together and see how everything combines and creates this delicious dessert. There’s a science to it. My mom was my first customer. My other clients came along by word of mouth. My mom and friends would tell me, ‘Yes, you should do this,’ when I expressed I wanted to pursue this as my business.”
Prior to FBP, Ms. Dejesus researched programs to help grow her business, but she was afraid to spend money on the wrong class or not receive all the necessary information. “I don’t have the funds for coaches or mentors to help with starting a small business,” Ms. Dejesus said. “When I saw the email from REES it was an answered prayer, and the program ended up being everything I needed and what I was looking for.”
Ms. Dejesus learned a lot during the 10 weeks of the program, but the most crucial to her was knowing her business numbers: “Whether it’s the cost of ingredients or renting a kitchen, you need to learn and know your numbers. That’s what’s going to help you to price your items so your business doesn’t lose money, and you can pay yourself.”
She eventually hopes to have a mobile cupcake truck so she can travel and reach more people. “I want to be able to share the love and sweeten up people’s days!” she said. “FBP showed me that it doesn’t matter where you live and what you have. They gave us the opportunity and resources we needed for free, and I’m thankful for REES for having something like this for residents in NYCHA and Section 8. They gave us the hope to move forward.”
Interested in learning more about the Food Business Pathways program? Register for an upcoming FBP virtual information session: Food Business Pathways Information Session 1/15/2025 | OpportunityNYCHA – REES.