BROOKLYN, NY — On Sept. 29, Mel’s Butter Blends won the Brooklyn Public Library’s 2017 PowerUp! Kreyol Business Plan Competition.
The first place winner of the business plan competition receives $5,000 while second and third place winners receive $3,000 and $2,000.
The PowerUP! KREYOL Business Plan Competition is sponsored by the NYC Department of Small Business Services, with support provided by Citi Bank Community Development as part of New York City’s Immigrant Business Initiative. PowerUP! KREYOL was tailored to provide resources and services to Haitian and Kreyol-speaking entrepreneurs.
Mel’s Butter Blends specializes in manufacturing natural products that can be used on hair and skin. The brand is known for two signature butter blends, the “Hair Crack” and “Hair Crack REMIX.”
“Mel’s Butter Blends began as one woman’s solution to a personal problem. I could not find products on the market that were truly natural that I could use on my newly natural hair,” said Melissa Lamarre, the brand’s founder. “Over time, I have been able to create several natural solutions for a range of problems. The growth of the brand now enables me to build a team and contribute more than products to my community.”
“New York City has the second-highest Haitian population in the United States, and Brooklyn is the borough the majority of these immigrants now call home. The PowerUP! Kreyol Business Plan Competition connects members of this community with the resources they need to realize their dream of owning their own businesses,” said a Brooklyn Public Library spokesperson. “With the support of the NYC Department of Small Business Services AND CITI Foundation, we are so pleased to be a part of Brooklyn’s entrepreneurial spirit.”