Power of SUNY

More than 1,000 New Yorkers Complete Entrepreneur Development Program at Levin Institute

The Levin Institute and the Department of Small Business Services announced in Feb. that more than 1,000 New Yorkers had completed the Kauffman FastTrac® program, in which courses help entrepreneurs develop the skills needed to start and grow successful businesses.

Recognizing that small businesses are a driving force behind the recovery and growth of New York City’s economy, The Department of Small Business Services partnered with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundationand The Levin Institute in March 2009 to implement an intense FastTrac program for New Yorkers under the leadership of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Levin has delivered more than 50 Kauffman FastTrac programs since May 2009.  More than 33 percent of the FastTrac® NewVenture alumni who responded to an SBS survey, launched their business within six months of completing the program. 54 percent of the FastTrac®GrowthVenture alumni who responded to the Small Business Services (SBS) survey said that they grew their business within 6 months of finishing the program. Participants operate businesses in a wide range of industries, including information technology, green tech, professional services, healthcare, retail, and food services. Levin estimates that the New York FastTrac participants created more than 300 new jobs in New York City.