Gov. Kathy Hawkle announced that small business owners can meet with representatives from nine state government agencies at two events on Long Island next month to discuss state licensing requirements, taxes, regulations, employee training programs, grants and other business assistance.
The free event is part of a statewide interagency small business tour that will take place at SUNY Old Westbury on July 22 and at the Suffolk Theatre on Main Street in Riverhead on July 23. Both events will run from 10 a.m. to noon.
To register, visit dol.ny.gov/SBT .
The tour was designed to “highlight the wide range of free resources available to help small businesses succeed,” said Hope Knight, CEO and president of Empire State Development, the state's main business support agency.
This is the second year for the tour, which is led by ESD and the state Department of Labor.
Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said the department “offers a wealth of free resources to help businesses of all sizes compete on the global stage.”
In addition to ESD and the Ministry of Labor, the Department of State, Department of Financial Services, Department of Taxation and Finance, Department of Agriculture and Markets, Bureau of Liquor Control, Workers' Compensation Board and Insurance Fund are also participating in the tour.
The SUNY Old Westbury event is being held in collaboration with the Long Island Association Business Group, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce and the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, while the Riverhead event is being held in collaboration with the Suffolk County Federation of Chambers of Commerce.
“This is a great opportunity for small business owners who are still recovering from the pandemic and economic downturn to speak with senior representatives from small business-related state agencies, have their questions answered and get the support they need,” coalition co-chairs Robert Fonti and Gina Colletti said Monday.
ESD will also host a Regional Opportunities Expo for minority- and women-owned businesses in Midtown Manhattan on July 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit esd.ny.gov/doing-business-ny/mwbe/2024-mwbe-regional-opportunities-expo-series.
Hoekl said ESD eliminates the years it takes to get MWBE certification.
Applications can now be processed in less than 90 days after Hawkle and the Legislature included $11 million in additional funding in the 2022-23 state budget.
