Beatstro, a hip hop-themed restaurant in Mott Haven, struggled to recover from the pandemic's blow on restaurants, but anti-poverty nonprofit Oyate Group stepped in to help.

"We did a program called Taste of Mott Haven, where we invested in 17 small businesses in this area. We invested $250,000, which came out to $1.6 million in economic development, economic impact in this community," said Tomas Ramos, founder, president and CEO of Oyate Group.

The program subsidized a drink and appetizer at various Mott Haven restaurants. The goal was to bring people back into the community and spur economic development after COVID. Ramos said all 17 businesses were on the verge of closing, and 16 of them are still open today.

"There are not enough words for me to voice the benefits that it provides, not only to small businesses like myself, but to the community," said Alfredo Angueira, owner of Beatstro. Angueira told News 12 he's forever grateful to the Oyate Group for helping save his business.

The Oyate Group has also distributed over $200,000 in grant money to restaurants in need. Some of the money has gone toward funding new technology or workforce development.

"A lot of people, small business owners that live in this area may open up a restaurant, and employ people, but they don't have the right training that's needed to continue bringing people back into the doors. And that's something that we've seen that's been a struggle in this community," said Ramos.

So Oyate Group built Nourish, a Tulum-inspired restaurant and cafe right in the heart of Mott Haven. The restaurant will put 100% of its profits toward Oyate Group's programming. Nourish will host hospitality workforce development trainings and serve as a community hub with resources.

Ramos told News 12 his goal for Oyate Group is to, "impact, empower, and inspire. Break the cycle of generational poverty."

Oyate group also engages in youth services, small business empowerment, and community intervention.

Click here to learn more about how the Oyate Group helps out the community.

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