In a shocking twist, Hartford’s much-anticipated small business grant program is in limbo, leaving local entrepreneurs hanging with unmet promises!
In October 2024, Hartford officials celebrated the launch of a $1.7 million initiative designed to empower small businesses in one of the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods. State Senator Doug McCrory, House Speaker Matt Ritter, and Mayor Arunan Arulampalam were all in attendance, highlighting the importance of this program aimed at providing critical support to minority-owned businesses along Albany Avenue. The initiative was a collaborative effort with a nonprofit called Upper Albany Main Street and was expected to offer training and grants of up to $15,000 to local entrepreneurs.
However, just a year later, this promising program has faced severe setbacks. The contract with Sonserae Cicero’s nonprofit, SHEBA, which was set to manage the program, has been canceled, leaving about two dozen small business owners questioning whether they will ever see the promised funds. This abrupt halt occurred after a federal grand jury began investigating the ties between Cicero and McCrory, as well as allegations surrounding Cicero’s businesses.
Entrepreneurs like Tahara Chapman, who runs a boutique clothing store called High Maintenance, and Merice Bryan, who is trying to launch a health care business, are now left in a state of uncertainty. Both women completed the program and eagerly await their grant money, which they had counted on to grow their businesses. “I did everything required of me, but now I’m just left wondering what’s happening behind the scenes,” Chapman expressed. Similarly, Bryan stated, “I worked hard and need that money to get my business off the ground.”
The saga behind the funding mismanagement stretches back several years and sheds light on the complexities of public money distribution. Initially, $2 million from federal pandemic relief funds was earmarked for CT Next, a quasi-public agency, with the intention of assisting small businesses in Hartford’s Black community. Despite the initial plans, complaints began pouring in during mid-2023 when local businesses claimed they had yet to receive any support.
As the timeline unfolded, issues regarding the subgranting of the federal funds surfaced. CT Next intended to allocate a portion of the funding to SHEBA while Cicero was already receiving separate state funding for similar services. Concerns about potential misuse of public funds were raised, leading to delays in disbursing money to the affected businesses.
In the face of increasing scrutiny, Hartford officials ultimately decided to suspend the program earlier this year as the investigation unfolded. Although Upper Albany Main Street’s contract remains intact, the overall initiative has been frozen pending federal review, leaving small business owners without crucial support.
The turmoil surrounding Hartford’s small business program highlights the challenges that can arise when public funding is entangled in bureaucratic and legal complexities. As city leaders attempt to navigate their way forward, the hope remains that the entrepreneurs who have waited so long for assistance will eventually receive the help they desperately need.
