The Urban Retail Acceleration Program (URAP)
Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development
The Urban Retail Acceleration Program (formerly known as The Black and Latino Urban Entrepreneurship - Retail Acceleration Program BLUE-RAP) is an exclusive program designed specifically for Black and Latino entrepreneurs who:
- currently operate a retail or restaurant business in New Jersey and
- are interested in opening a new retail store or restaurant
Program Overview
Participants accepted to this program will:
- Gain business management skills to successfully expand their business operations and financial growth that will result in business expansion and the possibility of opening additional locations
- Receive personal/individual business and financial coaching
- Visit two retail locations that successfully have created a robust infrastructure of continuous improvement and financial growth
- Opportunity to have Rutgers Business School students work on helping the participant solve a business problem
- Become part of the Rutgers Entrepreneurship network
Eligibility Requirements
- Have an existing retail or restaurant business (operational for at least 3 years)
- Business is located in New Jersey, preferably Hudson or Essex County
In the News
Lyneir Richardson and Marcus Crawford, the co-founder of the "Bro-Ritos" food truck, speak with Tracie Strahan of NBC Channel 4 about how the center and its programs helped launch his business.
URAP is funded by generous grants made by the following corporations:
URAP is a partnership between The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CUEED) at Rutgers Business School and Save Latin America, a New Jersey based non-profit organization (SLA).