WELCOME MESSAGE


Dear Friend,

Welcome to HABNET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. As you may know, at HABNET we are dedicated to promoting higher business standards and better business methods, supporting and promoting entrepreneurship, as well as fostering trade and commerce.  Since 2005 we have provided business education and financial literacy to our members and the public; and established a platform for member business owners to network and collaborate with each other.  We continue this endeavor by offering several programs and services for current and aspiring entrepreneurs, namely: Business Education, Business Consulting, Louverture Symposium, Merchant Organizing, Restaurant Week, US-Haiti Investment Project, Workforce Development, Young Entrepreneur, and more. These programs and services reflect our mission to holistically support and promote entrepreneurship and investment in underserved, immigrant communities.

Notably, the HABNET website is user-friendly and updated with more interactive functions.  The website contains very useful information such as Forming a Business or Non-Profit, M/WBE Application and Certification Assistance, Credit Repair, Job Opportunities, Business and Investor Education for current and aspiring Entrepreneurs and more. Take full advantage of this resource. We are doing our part to connect our members with needed resources to succeed.

In this era of the Corona Virus, our lives and routines have been upended. Those of us who survive this pandemic owe it to the fallen to do more and to be more. What I consider a noble goal in our lifetime is to strive to be financially independent while having a positive impact on our community. Therefore, if you see a need in your community, meet that need and make a difference if you can.

I implore you to live in the present, but plan for the future. Do not resign yourself to just being a spender, but also an investor; not just a consumer, but also a producer; not just an employee, but an employer; not just being a renter, but a property owner; not just a spectator, but a stakeholder in the economic and civic life of your community. In a capitalistic and democratic society like ours, few individuals are as influential as the entrepreneur or professional who is civically engaged. Be bold, be innovative and be purposeful. Make things happen by becoming a civic-minded entrepreneur investor.

Sincerely,
Jackson Rockingster
President & Chief Executive Officer
HABNET

Dear Friend,

Thank you for visiting HABNET’s website.  As a Chamber of Commerce, we are focused on three key areas: business development, civic engagement and education. With a focus on entrepreneurship, we develop workshops to connect business owners to the finance industry and   to government. We developed successful strategies to assist our members to grow their business at every operational level. Oftentimes small business owners operate alone not knowing the resources that are available to them. We at HABNET make it our priority to connect local businesses to our growing network to and afford them the necessary tools to succeed.

We encourage Civic Engagement because we recognize the value that City, State and Federal government bring to the business community. We are a resource for the certification of Women/Minority Owned Business Enterprises. With the designation of MWBE, businesses can increase their opportunities when they apply, and bid for, government contracts.  When you are a HABNET Member or an Affiliated Organization, you are not alone. We collaborate with Legal, Medical, Financial, Law Enforcement and other Professional Associations to ensure that your business interests are priorities.

Finally, we emphasize the value of education: Business Education, Investor Education and Civic Education. Acknowledging that continued education and access to developing technology are pathways to success, we collaborate with local government agencies, local colleges and other Not-for-Profit institutions to bring our members and the community best business practices relating to compliance, accounting, marketing, strategic planning and technology.  We know that the times are changing and we encourage our members to embrace technological advances in order to not only survive but to thrive. While the future may be uncertain, our path and objective are clear.  HABNET is here to be your partner to success and to encourage you to always be stakeholders in our socio-economy. Now more than ever, we will find solutions to our common problems, and we will face and overcome the challenges together.

Sincerely,
David Morisset
Chairman of the Board
HABNET