The BCNA's stated mission is to ''assist immigrants, refugees, women, and others in need to achieve self-sufficiency and wealth creation.''
Since 1997, that's what it's done. As of March, the nonprofit has made 1,060 microloans, worth $8 million. Some of these loans are as little as $500, and are used to help would-be entrepreneurs establish a credit history.
Anyone in Queens or Staten Island with a qualifying business can apply for a loan. Immigrants, refugees, and women in the other three boroughs can apply as well.
The nonprofit disbursed 112 loans in 2008.
Los Angeles is just one of 10 most affordable cities for doing business, according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Partnership for New York City. More
