The Greater New Haven Business & Professional Association grew out of the need in the early sixties for Minority Business and Professionals to band together for:

(1) mutual support

(2) to become aware of services being provided by black business and professionals

(3) to gain access to business capital

(4) to create a network of trained, knowledgeable and influential friends who share challenges

common to minority business enterprise.

The genesis group was formed be Edward Cherry, an Architect in private practice; Gerald Clark, Owner of a private insurance agency; Dr Lylurn Downing, Dentist in private practice; Rev. William Philpot,, Community Baptist Church, and Zollie Stringer, Social Worker at the Dixwell Community House ( Q-House). This group met over a period of eight months to discuss goals.

Slowly other known businesses and professionals were invited into the group until it was agreed that a firm organization was ready.  Attorney Herbert Scott volunteered his legal expertise to incorporate the philosophies onto paper.  The name "Greater New Haven Business and Professional Men's Association was chosen. Later, due to sensitivity to women participation and leadership in the business arena, the name was changed to the  'Greater New Haven Business and Professional Association."

With an initial grant from the New Haven Foundation ( now known as "The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven"), the organization began to provide minority businesses with needed business technical assistance with Gerald Clark, an MBA from New York University, heading up the bulk of the work. From that austere beginning the organization evolved into a major minority consulting entity with contracts and grants form the State of Connecticut, The United States Department of Commerce, the City of New haven and others offering business technical assistance, construction contractors assistance, loan packaging help and practical advice, etc.