In 2008, The Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center established the Columbia Community Business Program (CCBP), a program designed to support the growth and development of businesses and not-for-profit organizations in Upper Manhattan.

The two year program fosters a business community and offers participants access to Columbia University resources from the Business, Law and Engineering Schools, as well as group and individual meetings featuring professionally facilitated peer learning.

Twelve owners of local businesses that make at least $250,000 or more were accepted into the pilot group (Watch the CCBP video). Now in its third cohort, twenty businesses were admitted into the program. The companies represent a range of industries including construction, food services, retail, fitness, technology and media. The participants, listed below, met as an inaugural group this month and are expected to meet regularly over a two-year period:

Harlem Flo, Inc
Louis Gagliano and Stefan Handi

5 and Diamond Restaurant
Selene Martinez/Lia Sanfilippo

Kirsten Palacios Agency, Inc.
Kirsten Palacios

Park North Physical Therapy, PLLC
Sameer Morjaria

CLEANSTRAND, INC
Andre Lewis

Right Brain, IT/Jin Ramen Corp
Ifan Chang

No Crusts Interactive LLC
Carla Fisher

Vision  Education & Media
Laura Allen

PearTree Center, Inc.
Denise Adusei

Levels Barbershop
Kamal Nuru

All Things Traffic, Inc.
Curtis Sherrod

Harlem Pediatric Associates
Christopher Phang, MD

Tbro's Renovation Inc.
Michael Tarachand and Christopher Tarachand

Evelyn's Kitchen
Ayala Donchin

Innovative Therapy Solutions
Timberly Leite

Land Yoga
Lara Lauchheimer

Majora Carter Group, LLC
Majora Carter

I’m Bilingual
Yolanda Borras

K.D.S. Developers, Inc.
Kenneth Shin

Bobtek Electrical
Joanne Bobb