The Brooklyn Public Library has plenty of books to help start a business. It also has a contest with a cash prize for the winner of the best business plan each year. In its 19th year, the PowerUP business plan competition will award $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, $5,000 for third place and $1,000 for five merit winners. During the awards ceremony, the audience will award one of the merit winners an additional $1,000. Entrants must be 18 years or older, live in Brooklyn and plan to start a business in Brooklyn. Participants must attend an orientation, get a Brooklyn Public Library card, meet with a business advisor and attend a minimum of three PowerUP webinar classes, which cover business plan writing, financial projections and marketing. Since 2003, BPL has supported 9,275 individuals with more than 1,200 business plans and awarded more than $500,000 to Brooklyn entrepreneurs. Among 2021 participants, 25% were immigrants/foreign born, 72% were women and 72% had never owned a business.

Learn more at the Brooklyn Public Library.