Declare Small Business Week

Assembly Resolution No. 299 BY: M. of A. Thiele MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 30-May 6, 2017, 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 U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration reported that 39,941 companies exported goods from New York State in 2014, and of these, 37,568 or 94% were small and medium-sized firms, which generated 53% of New York's total known export value; and WHEREAS, New York State actively supports Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) by supporting a State procurement contracting goal of 30 percent from MWBE firms; and WHEREAS, The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act of 2014 promotes and encourages participation of service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBs) in New York State's public procurement process; 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; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 30-May 6, 2017, 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.