Schneps Publications certified as a woman-owned business

Already the top weekly newspaper in the borough, The Queens Courier and its parent company, Schneps Publications Inc., has added another distinction to its resume - recently being certified as a woman-owned business enterprise by the New York State Economic Development Council.
“I feel like it’s a powerful tool in building our business to have available to us the status of being a woman-owned business,” said Schneps Publications Inc. CEO and Publisher Victoria Schneps-Yunis.
New York State’s Division of Minority- and Women-owned Business Development (MWBD) certified Schneps Publications Inc., and the designation provides numerous opportunities for a business.
Initially, the designation enables entrance into programs designed to assist Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) firms statewide including access to capital and other financial assistance for established businesses, leveraging capital to achieve the best results at a lower cost. In addition, businesses get a directory of certified MWBE businesses and help reaching out to those groups.
Schneps-Yunis, who started The Queens Courier in her basement in 1985, has grown the business throughout the years, and it currently consists of a group of 11 publications, blanketing the entire borough.
In addition to The Queens Courier, Schneps Publications Inc., publishes El Correo de Queens – the only Queens community newspaper in Spanish; Queens Business Today, Queensborough Magazine - the official publication of the Queens Chamber of Commerce - HealthWise Magazine, North Shore Towers Courier and a tourist booklet called Key to Queens.
With all of the expansion throughout the many years, Schneps-Yunis said being certified as a woman-owned business is a very important milestone.
“It wasn’t easy to accomplish, but I encourage every woman to get certified,” Schneps-Yunis said.
Those interested in applying for the certification can contact the Empire State Development at 518/-292-5250 or visit www.nylovesbiz.com/pdf/dmwbd.pdf for the certification application.