---

While it takes vision, hard work and planning for a small business to thrive, the state’s Partnership for Action is helping owners get the support they need.

Among them is Asbury Park’s own Parlor Gallery on Cookman Avenue.

The woman-owned, artist directed-and-curated gallery, recently received a $20,000 working capital loan via the state’s bank — the Economic Development Authority [EDA] and New Jersey Community Capital [NJCC].

On Tuesday co-owner and curator Jenn Hampton was visited by EDA Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen and NJCC Chief Lending Officer Marie Mascherin [shown above] to celebrate the award that helped fund marketing materials and other operating costs.

“The support EDA and NJCC provided has helped us build our client base and raise awareness of events and exhibits at the gallery,” Hampton said. “It’s exciting to see our vision of educating and advising collectors coming to life.”

Featuring emerging and established artists, Parlor Gallery opened in 2009 with a mission to ‘foster a welcoming, creative environment where the public can experience exhibits they may not otherwise have access to outside of a large urban setting,’ according to their mission statement.  Today, their staff includes two full-time and two part-time employees.

The working capital loan is a part of the EDA’s Loans to Lenders program, which NJCC, the intermediary, makes available to small businesses that do not qualify for traditional bank financing.

The EDA is part of the state’s Partnership for Action led by Lt. Governor Guadagno. Since 2010, it has provided a total of $5.5 million to five intermediary organizations like NJCC.

“The Loans to Lenders program helps to extend the State’s reach to underserved communities and businesses,” said Orsen. “We encourage businesses of all sizes to explore opportunities for support available through the state.”

Over the last three years, NJCC has received a total of $1.25 million. The non-profit was formed in 1987 with a goal of increasing jobs, improving education and strengthening neighborhoods.

“The EDA’s Loans to Lenders program has enabled NJCC to support more businesses with financing that will help them grow and expand, and create the jobs that are so important to our communities,” Mascherin said.

To date, $1.7 million EDA loans have gone to support 43 businesses, with more than 50 percent of them being minority- or women-owned.

To learn more, visit the state’s business portal atwww.NewJerseyBusiness.gov or call the Business Action Center at (866) 534-7789.

For more information about Parlor Gallery, visit their website.

——————————————-

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

---