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NEW YORK CITY Civic Building Blocks for Successful Small Businesses

New York New Belfast Conference June 10, 2010. NEW YORK CITY Civic Building Blocks for Successful Small Businesses. Robert Walsh, Commissioner NYC Department of Small Business Services. New York City Profile. Neighborhoods: 300 Population: 8.1 million Foreign Born: 36%

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NEW YORK CITY Civic Building Blocks for Successful Small Businesses

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  1. New York New Belfast Conference June 10, 2010 NEW YORK CITY Civic Building Blocks for Successful Small Businesses Robert Walsh, Commissioner NYC Department of Small Business Services

  2. New York City Profile • Neighborhoods: 300 • Population: 8.1 million • Foreign Born: 36% • Languages Spoken: 180 • Square Miles: 321.8 • Population per Square Mile: 24,886 • Miles of Subway: 660 • Employment: 4 million+ • Private Businesses: 220,000 • Restaurants: 20,000+ 2

  3. Creating an Agency to Serve Small Business As a former small businessman himself, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has emphasized the role that small businesses play in shaping New York City’s economy. Soon after coming into office, he created the Department of Small Business Services —the first agency of its kind to be dedicated entirely to serving New York City’s small businesses. • “Entrepreneurs are trying to create jobs and business as usual from government is just not acceptable.” • - Mayor Michael Bloomberg • January 20, 2010 3

  4. Civic Building Blocks for Small Businesses • Increase Businesses’ Voice in Government • Reduce the Cost of Doing Business • Develop Business Networks that Work • Improve the Effectiveness of Programs Storefronts along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn 4

  5. Increase Businesses’ Voice in Government The Mayor asked SBS to develop a blueprint for how to serve small businesses. SBS started by asking businesses what they need. At the top of the list: NYC Business Solutions Centers • Accessing capital to start and expand • Finding qualified workers • Navigating government regulations Washington Heights Bronx Upper Manhattan SBS built a suite of services, NYC Business Solutions, around the actual needs of businesses to help them start, operate and expand: Lower Manhattan Queens • Business Courses • Legal Assistance • Financing • Recruiting Employees • Training Employees • Incentives • M/WBE Certification Brooklyn Staten Island 5

  6. Increase Businesses’ Voice in Government Each year NYC Business Solutions provides no cost, customized services to help over 9,500entrepreneurs and small business owners reach their goals. In 2009, NYC Business Solutions: • Facilitated 404 loans for our customers, helping them to access over $22 million in financing through partner lenders. On track to facilitate over 600 loans in 2010. • Provided 4,000 customers with free business courses like Business Planning Basics, QuickBooks and Mastering Marketing. • Saved262 customers an average of $2,000 on legal fees associated with structuring businesses and reviewing contracts and leases. • Helped businesses train865employees to advance employees’ skills and wages while making businesses more profitable and productive. • Resolved issues and answered questions for more than 1,000businesses needing help with permits, licenses, regulations, incentives and other government requirements. Teofila Agruda, owner of Royal Deli at the Office based in Queens, saved ~$2,000 in legal fees by using our network of pro-bono attorneys to legally structure her business 6

  7. Reduce the Cost of Doing Business To start and operate a business in New York City, you must obtain multiple permits and licenses from dozens of city, state, and federal agencies. 7

  8. Reduce the Cost of Doing Business • NYC Business Express is an online, one-stop resource where you can quickly and easily learn about licenses, permits and other government requirements for doing business in New York City. The NYC Business Express Wizard allows customers to plug in information about their business and it provides up-to-date information and step-by-step instructions for meeting government requirements to start and operate in NYC. The NYC Business Express Wizard The NYC Business Express Incentives Estimator allows customers to assess eligibility for 45city, state, and federal incentives. For the first time, customers can apply for new licenses and permits online; 33online applications are available today. 8

  9. Reduce the Cost of Doing Business The goal of NYC Business Express is to make it possible for customers to completely manage their relationship with the City of New York online: • Learn of all government requirements and incentives • Apply online – providing information to the City only once and when it’s needed • Access an online “account” with information about their business (status of permits, taxes owed, outstanding balances, inspection dates) • Eliminate in-person steps, minimize required paperwork, and coordinate start-up inspections NYC Business Expressallows businesses to focus on what’s really important: opening their doors, generating revenue and creating jobs.  Success Story: Johnny Celestin, owner of La Perle Noire Café in Harlem, used NYC Business Express to obtain permits to open his restaurant. Visit us atnyc.gov/businessexpress 9

  10. Develop Business Networks that Work Developing Business Networks: 64Business Improvement Districts (BID) 16Industrial Business Zones 2Industrial Ombudsman Areas 9Workforce1 Career Centers 7NYC Business Solutions Centers In 2009, NYC’s BIDs invested nearly $98 million in services in their districts and employed 1,000 sanitation and security workers. Under Mayor Bloomberg, 20 new BIDs have been created, 18 of which are in boroughs outside of Manhattan. 10

  11. Develop Business Networks that Work Commercial Revitalization Programs Avenue NYC is a capacity-building initiative designed specifically for non-profit economic development organizations. The Avenue NYC program provides organizations with funding in specific commercial revitalization project areas and the technical assistance needed to implement successful programs. In 2009, Avenue NYC invested $2 million in support of the commercial revitalization activities of 40 organizations in the following program areas: • Business Attraction • Business Improvement District Formation • Façade Improvement Management • Neighborhood Economic Development Planning • District Marketing • Innovative Economic Development Initiatives Church Avenue in Brooklyn 11

  12. Develop Business Networks that Work Impact of Effective Business Networks: Times Square: Before and After Union Square: Before and After 12

  13. Improve the Effectiveness of Programs In July 2003, Mayor Bloomberg eliminated the Department of Employment and consolidated the City’s adult workforce programs with the Department of Small Business Services to make workforce development efforts more effective by linking them to economic development initiatives. Small Business Services Supports the formation and growth of small businesses by providing business assistance, fostering neighborhood development, and promoting economic opportunity Department of Employment Provides access to employment and training resources to help jobseekers in NYC The Department of Small Business Services Supports economic growth in NYC by directly supporting businesses, strengthening the NYC workforce to meet businesses’ needs, and by connecting businesses to jobseekers 13

  14. Improve the Effectiveness of Programs Workforce1 Career Centers, operated in each borough of the City by leading non-profit and for-profit service providers, offer free employment and training services to jobseekers and businesses. In 2009, our Career Centers placed New Yorkers in more than 25,000 jobs. Workforce1 Career Centers Bronx Manhattan Hunts Point Healthcare Center Queens Transportation Center Brooklyn Manufacturing Center Staten Island Mayor Bloomberg visits the Hunts Point Workforce1 Career Center. 14

  15. Improve the Effectiveness of Programs Q24 6,896 placements (2009) Q1 127 placements (2004) • When SBS took over the City’s adult workforce programs,3 Workforce1 Career Centers were placing New Yorkers in 127 jobs per quarter. • In October to December 2009, the Workforce1 Career Centers placed New Yorkers in 7,800 jobs. 15

  16. Improve the Effectiveness of Programs • Investing in Sector Work: • Workers engaged in sector initiatives are more likely to earn higher wages, experience greater career advancement and hold jobs with benefits. • Businesses involved in sector initiatives report improvement in retention rates, productivity and greater worker skills. TheManufacturing Career Center launched in Downtown Brooklyn in December 2009. The goal of the first year is to secure over 200 job placements or promotionsand train over 160 people. The Transportation Career Center launched in Jamaica, Queens in June 2008. To date, the Center has made more than 1,679 placements and 538 promotions. TheHealthcare Career Center launched with LaGuardia Community College in Queens in October 2009; the Center has made over 134 placements and 23 promotions. 15

  17. Learn More To learn more about SBS visit us at: nyc.gov/sbs

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