A community-focused grant event in Flatbush celebrated both legacy and entrepreneurship as the Brooklyn chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. hosted its fourth annual Dr. Luc El-Art Severe Small Business Recovery Grant Awards on July 24 at BunNan, a Haitian-Caribbean restaurant on Flatbush Avenue.
The event marked a milestone for the fraternity's Bigger and Better Business initiative by awarding its first brick-and-mortar recipient since the program's inception. The grant honors the legacy of Dr. Luc El-Art Severe, a Brooklyn-based attorney and fraternity brother who championed small business development in New York.
This year’s $2,500 award was presented to Nadege Fleurimond, owner of BunNan, to support business operations and outreach in the local community. The celebration included appearances by previous grant recipients, local leaders and family members of Dr. Severe.
“The Dr. Luc El-Art Severe Small Business Recovery Grant is a testament to our ongoing commitment to supporting and uplifting the Brooklyn small business community, a cause dear to Dr. Severe’s heart,” said Juan Perez, president of the Sigma Brooklyn Chapter.
Brooklyn Council Members Farah Louis and Rita Joseph joined the event and emphasized the vital role small businesses play in neighborhood recovery and growth.
The Bigger and Better Business initiative was developed as Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s first national program and was introduced in 1924. Its mission is to promote and strengthen Black-owned and minority-owned businesses through access to resources and strategic support.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted small businesses across Brooklyn, prompting community-based solutions and renewed support. Through this annual grant, the Brooklyn Sigmas aim to help businesses navigate challenges and remain rooted in their neighborhoods.
"Receiving this grant from the Brooklyn Sigmas was an honor," said Fleurimond.
Additional information on the grant program and the Bigger and Better Business initiative is available here.
