New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, and Baruch College announced today the five finalists of the Competition To Help Reach Immigrant Ventures and Entrepreneurs (THRIVE). Competition THRIVE is designed to generate business plans that will address the challenges faced by immigrant entrepreneurs, including access to credit, financial management, language barriers, and access to business networks. The five selected finalist organizations are ACCION USA, Business Outreach Center Network, Inc. (BOC Network), Make the Road NY (MRNY), Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC), and Washington Heights Inwood Development Corporation (WHIDC).

"Immigrant entrepreneurs are vital to New York City's long-term economic success, and Competition THRIVE is an important part of our efforts to support and empower this growing community," said New York City Economic Development President Seth W. Pinsky. "These five programs have the potential to reach hundreds of immigrant business owners across the five boroughs, and address the challenges they so often face. I would like to congratulate all the finalists, and look forward to the development of programs that will benefit our City's immigrant entrepreneurs, and ultimately, our economy."

"We are pleased that Competition THRIVE has uncovered such promising business plans to address the needs of a critical component of the city's social and economic fabric," said President of the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation Gary Hattem. "THRIVE's success reflects the value of combining the expertise of a range of partners across the public and private sectors, and Deutsche Bank is proud to be an integral element of that partnership."

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