de Blasio Leads Initiative to help Women Owned Businesses with Crowdfunding in New Term [VIDEO]

New Yorkers voted to keep Bill de Blasio as its mayor on  Nov 7. Within days of his election-night victory, Mayor de Blasio announced a new program to help women owned businesses in New York City get loans with crowdfunding campaigns. As a part of a partnership with Kiva.org, the WE Fund: Crowd, City-backed crowdfunding program will help women entrepreneurs access affordable capital and start businesses in NYC.

As a part of the new program, women entrepreneurs can apply through Kiva.com for crowdfunded loans of up to $10,000 and NYC will contribute the first 10 percent (up to $1,000) of their loan request. The program is designed to reach at least 500 businesses over the next three years.

Leveling the playing field for women entrepreneurs will help grow and diversify our economy, and strengthen our families and neighborhoods,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. “With Kiva, we will help launch small businesses that might otherwise never get off the ground.”

Mayor de Blasio’s new programs and re-election could give him a chance with skeptical residents. Republican candidate Nicole Malliotakis criticized Mayor de Blasio during her election bid for increased transit problems, property taxes, rumored pay-to-play scandals at city hall and income inequality among city residents. Malliotakis secured endorsements from the New York Post, former New York State Gov. George Pataki, and other community and media organizations. De Blasio won election night in a landslide victory grabbing 66.5 percent of the vote.