A.4169 (Scarborough) / S.898 (Parker)

STAFF CONTACT :

518.465.7511

BILL

A.4169 (Scarborough) / S.898 (Parker)

SUBJECT

To Create a Directory of Assistance Programs for Small Business and Minority and Women Business Enterprises

DATE

Support

The Business Council of New York State, Inc. supports A.4169 (Scarborough)/S.898 (Parker) that would create an electronic directory of state, federal and non-profit programs that offer technical and financial assistance programs for minority and women owned businesses and small businesses.

Governor Cuomo has taken serious steps to help minority and women owned businesses during his first few years in office including creating a surety bond program, streamlining the certification process and increasing state agencies' MWBE contracting goals to 20 percent. While all of these programs help MWBEs participate in state contracts, more can be done to help these small businesses grow and find opportunities outside of just state contracting. This bill would provide one more valuable tool to MWBEs and all small businesses by creating a centralized directory of technical and financial assistance programs and the government agency or organization's contact information.

MWBE and small business owners, in general, do not have the time or resources available to keep up to date on changing government regulations, business strategies or to research new resources available to help them invest in their business and grow. We believe this directory will be a valuable tool for small businesses by creating one reliable site, maintained and updated by Empire State Development, for them to find information on a variety of things related to their business.

For these reasons, The Business Council supports this legislation.