What's happening
This bill promotes local small businesses listed on the historic registry and increases reporting and support through the "I Love NY" brand.
Why it matters
Elevates the importance of historic small businesses. by requiring the state’s economic development efforts to specifically promote those listed on the official historic registry, potentially driving more tourism and local spending to these unique businesses.
Mandates more transparent and detailed reporting. on how the “I Love NY” brand is used to support historic small businesses, including concrete lists of which businesses are promoted and analysis of the impact, making it easier for the public and policymakers to track effectiveness and accountability.
Integrates support for historic small businesses into broader tourism marketing and grant programs. , ensuring these businesses are included in collaborative, themed campaigns—potentially expanding their reach beyond traditional audiences.
Shifts away from creating a separate historic small business brand. under “I Love NY” and instead embeds support for these businesses across all relevant state tourism initiatives, which could streamline efforts and provide more consistent visibility.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Promote Historic Small Businesses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A432
- Ordered to third reading cal.72
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Promote Historic Small Businesses
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Carrie Woerner
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
798
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. S. RYAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to the promotion of local small businesses listed on the registry of historic businesses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 100 of the economic development law is amended by adding a new subdivision 16-c to read as follows:
16-c. to promote local small businesses listed on the registry of historic businesses maintained pursuant to section 14.11 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law.
§ 2. Subdivisions 1 and 5 of section 152 of the economic development law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the economic development law relating to the creation of an "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9268 and A. 10036, are amended to read as follows:
1. The department shall enact guidelines for the use of the brand, which shall include measures to allow for the expansion of the brand to fit niche and thematic marketing efforts[, including but not limited to an "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand to highlight small businesses listed on the registry of historic businesses maintained pursuant to section 14.11 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law]. When appropriate, the brand shall be applied to targeted promotional initiatives, and shall be leased at no cost to any public benefit corporation or not-for-profit, New York heritage trail tourism promotion agency, convention and visitors bureau or local government.
5. Reporting requirements. The department shall annually, on or before February first, submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, the tourism advisory council and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
S LBD02796-01-5
the chairs of the senate and assembly standing committees concerned with tourism a report on the department's activities related to the "I Love NY" [brands, including but not limited to the "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche] brand, including but not limited to the following: (a) marketing plan including the annual and long term goals, specific plans, target regions and performance measures for marketing campaigns using the "I Love NY" brand [and "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand]; (b) licensing activity including a list of all entities that licensed the "I Love NY" brand [and/or "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand] and the total amount received from all licensing activities; (c) contractual services including a list of each entity providing services related to the "I Love NY" brand [and "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand], the amount charged, the nature of the services and the relationship of these services to the department's marketing plan; (d) sponsorship activities utilizing the [brands] brand; [and] (e) an analysis of the effectiveness of the "I Love NY" brand [and "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand] based promotions in stimulating tourism and recommendations for improved utilization of the brand; and (f) an analysis of the effectiveness of the department's effort to support historic small businesses through "I Love NY" brand based promotions and a list of the historic small businesses highlighted in the brand based promotions.
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 153 of the economic development law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the economic development law relating to the creation of an "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9268 and A. 10036, is amended to read as follows:
1. The department shall create a new grant program designed to encourage an integrated thematic approach to tourism promotion. The program shall provide state matching funds to eligible entities not to exceed fifty thousand dollars annually. Eligible entities shall include two or more counties, or a series or collection of thematically related entities, choosing to market multiple, thematically related assets or activities in a single marketing campaign[, including but not limited to the "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand]. The commissioner is directed to establish guidelines and an application process.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the economic development law relating to the creation of an "I Love NY Historic Small Business" niche brand, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9268 and A. 10036, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the economic development law, in relation to the promotion of local small businesses listed on the registry of historic businesses
Purpose
Chapter Amendment. To require the Department of Economic Development to promote small businesses listed on the registry of historic businesses maintained by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preser- vation.
Summary of provisions
Chapter Amendment.
Section 1: Includes the requirement of promoting small businesses listed on the registry of historic businesses to the rights and duties of the Department of Economic Development.
Section 2: Requires the Department of Economic Development to report on the effectiveness of the efforts to support historic small businesses through the "I Love NY" brand-based promotions.
Effective thirty days after it shall become law.
Justification
The majority of businesses in New York State are small businesses, many of which reflect and enhance the rich history and traditions of their local communities. New York's registry of historic businesses celebrates unique and iconic business that have operated in New York communities for 50 years or longer (with no more than a two-year break) and provides a ready-resource of historic tourist attractions. This bill capitalizes on the durability, success, and ingenuity of New York's historic small businesses by celebrating them through the state's long-standing "I Love NY" campaign. By directing ESD to include Historic Small Business promotion in its marketing guidance and grant eligibility, the state will help ensure the survival of these long-standing businesses in the future.
Legislative history
2024:
S.9268 (Ryan) - Passed Senate on 5/30/24, 57-0.
A.10036(Woerner)- Passed Assembly on 5/30/24, 144-0.
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the Economic Development Law in relation to the promotion of local small businesses listed on the regis- try of historic businesses.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.