This National Financial Literacy Month, Small Business Owners Deserve More Than Advice. They Deserve an EDGE.

April is National Financial Literacy Month, but for small business owners, financial literacy is not a classroom concept. It is survival. It is cash flow. It is credit. It is knowing whether you can pay yourself, manage a slow month, qualify for capital, or make the next growth decision with confidence.

That is exactly why TAP created EDGE.

Launched with support from Citi Foundation, the Economic Development & Growth for Entrepreneurs, or EDGE, Program is an eight-month initiative designed to strengthen both personal and business financial health for low to moderate-income small business owners across New York City and Westchester County. Through no-cost coaching, small group sessions, and one-on-one guidance, EDGE helps entrepreneurs build stronger habits around spending, saving, borrowing, and planning.

And the response has been strong.

More than 250 small business owners have already enrolled. Applications are being accepted through April 30, and coaching will continue through the end of September. At the close of the program, 25 to 40 participants will receive monetary awards to invest in their businesses. TAP has also described EDGE as building toward a cohort of 300 small businesses, which means roughly 50 spots remain.

Why does this matter so much right now?

Because too many small business owners are told to focus on growth before they have the financial clarity to support it. They are told to go get capital before they understand what may be limiting their options. They are told to keep pushing, even when personal and business financial stress are feeding each other in ways that are hard to untangle.

EDGE was built to address that reality head-on.

It is not transactional. It is not generic. It is structured, practical, and deeply human. TAP designed the program around the belief that stronger decision-making starts with stronger financial habits, and that real progress happens when expert guidance is paired with relationships, accountability, and peer connection. That is what participants are responding to.

One participant described their TAP consultant as exceptional, noting that the session brought thoughtful perspective, practical suggestions, and a more data informed way of thinking about the business. That kind of feedback speaks to something important. Small business owners do not just need information. They need support that helps them apply it.

What EDGE participants are saying

-Patricia Semmler

Founder and Owner,

PEM studio, Brooklyn NY

-Gustavo Collins

Founder and CEO,

Harbar Global Corp. &

BeeU! Skincare Products, Bronx NY

-Magali Mercado

Founder and Owner,

Bowniqueness Chic, New Rochelle NY

Financial Literacy Month is a timely reminder that financial health is not separate from business growth. It is the foundation of it.

When small business owners understand their numbers, improve their financial habits, strengthen their credit, and plan with greater confidence, they are better positioned to grow sustainably and weather uncertainty. That is good for the business owner, good for their family, and good for the communities they serve.

That is also what TAP has proven at scale. According to an analysis by The Bridgespan Group, every $1 invested in TAP generates $10 in economic and community value. EDGE is the latest example of what that looks like in practice.

Apply to EDGE

If you are a low- to moderate-income small business owner in New York City or Westchester County, now is the time to apply. About 50 spots remain, and applications are being accepted through April 30.

Visit theaccelerationproject.org/tap-edge to learn more and apply. Read the full press release online.