Regional Chamber of Commerce on Long Island LIAACC Rises to Prominence During 15th Year

New York, New York - Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. 2024 Minority Enterprise Development Month at the Town of Hempstead Pavilion in Hempstead, New York

Since its inception in October 2010 the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC) has made significant strides to grow the scope and size of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the region.

Chambers of Commerce organizations are some the best-known and connected organizations in the United States of America and their wisdom is highly sought after in business matters in communities throughout America.

As we continue to lay the foundation at LIAACC for the next decade we would like take the time to share and to reminisce on some of the chamber’s highlights of the past and to provide a glimpse into the future.

In September of 2013 our President Phil Andrews was called by our Former Chairman John L. Scott * (deceased) to join the chamber as its chairman of membership. Shortly thereafter Mr. Andrews was asked by the Chairman if he would consider taking on the role of the presidency at the Long Island African Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Mr. Andrews having prior knowledge of the inner workings of an effective chamber of commerce during his days of running the Haircut Hut Barbershop Franchise, and being named the Small Business Person of the Year by the West Indian American Chamber of Commerce and the Roosevelt Chamber of Commerce understood the value he could bring to position.

“Phil Andrews has been a great leader and friend to me for many years. I traveled from the Bronx and now, New Rochelle, to be a part of this chamber because I know if he’s going to be a part of it, it will make a positive and forceful impact in our community,” says Anthony Quinones, CEO of The Fracct Agency.

“The addition of Rose Ward as Vice President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. has helped the chamber to grow its Retool, Refocus, and Rebuild Black Business Campaign which was originally launched during the pandemic.” Phil Andrews, President, Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

One of the critical roles of local, regional, and national chambers of commerce is to serve as the voice of small businesses across America.

As New York State's largest African American Chamber of Commerce, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce keeps its ear to the ground to keep abreast of the needs of small business owners in its service territory.

As we approach our 15th year anniversary date on October 10th, 2025, we would like to share some important highlights leading up this momentous occasion as we look forward to the future.

One of the first public meetings we hosted at the chamber we brought a speaker from Hofstra's Entrepreneurial Assistance Center to speak at our general meeting in the Village of Hempstead.

Highlights

2019 - African American Chamber of Commerce President Phil Andrews Earns Statewide Honor - The president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce Phil Andrews was the 2019 "Small Business Champion," a recognition by the New York District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

2022 - LI African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., was selected as a participating organization in the Community Navigator Pilot Program which was funded in part through the United States Black Chamber’s grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The USBC Community Economic Development Corporation (USBC CEDC), providing services to the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. was awarded $5 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Community Navigator Pilot Program. The grant, awarded to 51 applicants nationally, is part of a $100 million initiative to help reduce the barriers that underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs face in accessing the programs and services that they need.

The SBA’s Community Navigator Pilot Program was created to ensure that small and micro-businesses receive support and access to federal relief programs in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that can help them recover, grow, and thrive. The grant is structured as a “Hub and Spoke” model to utilize networks and community advocates to assist historically underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs to better connect to the critical resources needed to launch, pivot, and recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

2022 - Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week was first held on Long Island in October 2022. The inaugural event was hosted by the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC) and the African American Small Business Foundation. National MED Week was first established by presidential proclamation in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.

"In order to continue to have a significant impact on the legacy of our chamber well into the future we remain fully committed to breaking down barriers daily, and creating opportunities for small business owners to thrive and scale their businesses to the next level," says Phil Andrews, President, Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

As we approach the 15th Anniversary date of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.’s founding date Minority Enterprise Development Month (MEDM) our 4th Year of hosting the MED Month will be held on Thursday, October 9th, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Town of Hempstead Pavilion located at One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York 11550.

To view or register for our entire list of upcoming events: https://tinyurl.com/liaacc2025upcomingevent