SmallBusinessesAboveBeyond

From Journalism80

Revision as of 22:06, 28 March 2007

Proposal

I will use this page to track my progress for an issue of NassauNews.org, covering small business in the area of Hempstead that have gone above and beyond with their success. I plan to investigate skyrocketing success and businesses that have that potential.

Will Castro, owner of Unique Autosport

Contact Information for Will Castro: will@uniqueautosport.com; Shop Phone #: 631-580-7382

• Will Castro has loved cars since he was a little boy living in the lower east side of Manhattan. He got his first hands-on experience through valet parking and car detailing. The Unique company has been in existence since 1990, when Castro opened a shop on Suffolk Avenue in Brentwood, NY. However, through difficult financial times, Castro had to shut down his shop 1995.

• When Castro was able to re-open, a move to the Hempstead Turnpike seemed necessary because his “clientele were more in the area.” With many New York Jets football players interested in the Unique shop’s work, this seemed to be a perfect location with the team practicing practically right across the street on Hofstra University’s campus.

• Now he has his own TV show on Speed Channel, Unique Whips, and works on cars of the rich and famous. Through a meeting with hip-hop sensation Busta Rhymes that turned into a bond like brothers, Castro’s career took off and has not set foot back on the ground since.

I have photos from a visit to the Holbrook shop, the location that is filmed for the show. I also have a 30 second video of the shop manager, Reme, working on a Lamborghini. Additional videos that might be useful to source in my story can be found on the Unique Whips MySpace page.

I plan to try to speak with Reme in the near future for some comments, but was unable to during my visit because he was busy.

Another aspect of this to investigate is the Unique shop here in Uniondale. Will said it is now a DJ shop, but the videos on MySpace and the Unique site say that it is a small shop and boutique. I will stop by and see.

Small Business Supporters

Gary Hudes, Nassau County's 6th District Council Member

Contact information for Gary Hudes: (516) 785-1437

Nassau County's 6th District council member, Gary Hudes, is a supporter of small businesses. Through a phone interview, I will find out his perspective with all of his great experience owning and helping small businesses.

• "Owner and president of a jewelry business in Bellmore Village, Councilman Hudes has devoted a great deal of his time to help small businesses grow and prosper. Mr. Hudes recently served as president of Nassau County's largest business organization, The Nassau Council of Chamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of 6,000 small businesses. As president, he instituted a community partnership with Hofstra University that established an education program for small businesses throughout the county. As president of the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce, Hudes spearheaded a pilot program for downtown revitalization, which garnered three national awards and became the catalyst for downtown revitalization projects throughout the region. As a result of his commitment to small business, Mr. Hudes was also selected as the New York State "Small Business Advocate of the Year" by Governor George Pataki." (Gary Hudes)

Other Supporters

• “The small business owner is the backbone of our local economy. As a former business owner, I know, firsthand, how important it is to provide support for small, minority-owned business firms,” said James Garner, mayor of Hempstead.

James Garner referred to the North Hempstead’s Community Development Agency in the above source, so they might be an interesting contact. (516) 869-7670.

• "On April 13, 2006, President Bush Addressed The Small Business Week Conference And Outlined His Agenda To Help Small Businesses Grow. The President discussed three broad areas where the Administration is improving the environment for small businesses - keeping taxes low and spending tax dollars wisely, making health care more affordable and available, and expanding business opportunities at home and abroad. America's Small Businesses Are Thriving. Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs and account for nearly half of America's overall employment. They have played a vital role in helping our economy add more than 5.1 million new jobs since August 2003 and have helped reduce America's unemployment rate to 4.7 percent, below the average rate of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Small businesses are also vital for supporting our communities." White House

• Other groups exist to help small businesses, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Majority and America's Small Business Development Center Network. I'll will further investigate these sources and their potential to be a part of the story.