Glow Cultural Center Hosts Press Conference to Announce "Business Ready" Event Empowering Immigrant Small Business Owners in Queens

Flushing, NY — July 16, 2025 — Glow Cultural Center is proud to announce Business Ready: MWBE Certification, Marketing & Consulting, a free multilingual event taking place on Monday, July 21 to support small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Flushing and surrounding communities.

Today's press conference brings together community partners and civic leaders to highlight the purpose and impact of this initiative, which aims to break down barriers for immigrant-owned small businesses in accessing public resources and growing their visibility in the digital marketplace.

The event is hosted in partnership with:

• Empire State Development – Division of Minority & Women's Business Development
• Asian American Federation (AAF)
• Global Federation of Chinese Business Women – NY Chapter
• Chinatown Manpower Project (CMP)

"So many entrepreneurs in the immigrant community have the talent and drive — they just need access to the right information, in the right language," said Liang Ming, Director of Programs at Glow Cultural Center. "We're honored to bring together trusted partners and state resources to help our small businesses not just survive, but glow!"

Jenny Low, Executive Advisor at Empire State Development's MWBE Division, will speak at the July 21 event to guide participants through New York State's MWBE certification process. CMP will provide one-on-one business consulting in English and Chinese, while AAF will offer personalized digital marketing guidance through its Online Presence Program, which has supported over 150 Asian-owned businesses since its launch.

Asian-owned small businesses remain among the most underserved entrepreneurs in New York City. As the marketplace increasingly shifts online and technology becomes more complex, many Asian small business owners face significant challenges in adapting to these changes due to language barriers and limited access to digital resources. Although establishing an online presence is often a straightforward process, many small businesses are forced to pay high fees to professionals for basic setup and guidance. To address this gap, AAF launched the Online Presence Program to provide education and training that empower Asian small business owners with foundational knowledge of digital marketing and online tools.

The event has already drawn over 50 registered participants from a wide variety of industries, including:

• Food & Beverage (restaurants, bakeries, catering)
• Retail & E-commerce
• Childcare & After-school Services
• IT & Software Development
• Creative Services (design, photography, marketing)
• Transportation, Fitness & Wellness, and Professional Consulting

Additional free resources will be available from Renaissance Economic Development Corporation Small Business Services, including bilingual materials and referrals for further support.

Weisu Lu, representative from New York State Senator John Liu's office:

"Inspiring to see small business owners, especially from immigrant and minority backgrounds, learn and connect at this event towards their goals. Thanks to all the organizers' efforts in providing this guidance and support, and John Liu's office also welcomes every small business owner to ask any questions."

📅 Upcoming Event Details

Business Ready: MWBE Certification, Marketing & Consulting

📍 Glow Cultural Center – 133-29 41st Ave, 1st Floor, Flushing, NY

🗓️ Monday, July 21, 2025 | 🕠 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

🌐 Languages: English | Mandarin | Korean

🎟️ Admission: Free with RSVP