Declare Small Business Week

Senate Resolution No. 3132 BY: Senator MARCHIONE MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 29-May 5, 2018, as Small Business Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, In New York, the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses, minority- and women-owned businesses, and entrepreneurs are vital to the prosperity and vibrancy of every community across this great State and Nation; and WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, over 400,000 enterprises qualify as small businesses in New York State, comprising 97 percent of the State's established firms with 100 or fewer people; and WHEREAS, The 2014 Small Business Administration Profile of New York State Small Businesses listed the four State sectors with the most small business employment as: health care and social assistance; accommodation and food services; retail trade; and professional, scientific, and technical services; and WHEREAS, The International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, reported that 41,028 companies exported goods from New York State in 2012; of these, 38,675 or 94.3 percent were small firms, which generated three-fifths (59.7 percent) of New York's total known export value; and WHEREAS, The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act of 2014 promotes and encourages participation of service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBs) in the New York State public procurement process and has had a successful first year of implementation with 178 certified SDVOBs; and WHEREAS, The contributions made by small business owners are not often recognized, even though they create jobs, pay taxes, and produce goods and services for their community and for the people of New York State; and WHEREAS, Small business owners possess the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit to develop and market new technologies, thereby bringing more capital into the business market and further strengthening our economy; and WHEREAS, The innovation, diversity, competitive strength, job creation, and quality of life that small businesses bring to our economy are vital elements of our State's long-term economic health; and WHEREAS, Small businesses in New York State exert a strong positive influence on the political, economic, and social development of the State, and the future welfare of the State depends on the continued development of small businesses; and WHEREAS, The members of this Legislative Body wish to proclaim their recognition of small businesses as a crucial element in the economy of New York State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 29-May 5, 2018, as Small Business Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.