Queens Gazette

Queens C of C, Small Biz Services Partner On Assistance Programs





Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Robert W. Walsh on Tuesday joined representatives from the Chambers of Commerce of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx to announce partnerships to expand small business assistance programs administered through the NYC Business Solutions Centers. As small businesses encounter growing challenges resulting from the ongoing economic downturn, the Chambers of Commerce and SBS will work together to expand their efforts to identify and reach out to businesses that may benefit from existing assistance programs. In particular, SBS services that help position businesses to maximize their financing opportunities and connect them to the right lenders will be increasingly important as access to capital becomes more difficult for businesses of all kinds.

SBS and the Chambers of Commerce in each borough will partner to identify and target businesses that can benefit from the suite of NYC Business Solutions services. SBS will provide the chambers with an overview of the services offered, as well as a set of specific questions to ask businesses in order to determine needs. SBS will also provide marketing materials and a simple referral form they can use to send their members, in particular for loan packaging assistance.

At NYC Business Solution Centers, businesses in all five boroughs can get assistance starting, operating and expanding in New York City. Regardless of the size or stage of the business, SBS helps businesses meet their needs by providing a wide array of services in financing, legal assistance, business courses and business planning, navigating government, hiringtraining minority and womenowned business enterprise (M/WBE) certification and incentives.”The Queens Chamber of Commerce has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the Business Solution Center system and we have been in talks during these tough economic times to strengthen that relationship even further in hopes of assisting small businesses which are truly the lifeblood [of] our borough,” Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Jack Friedman said.

The Queens NYC Business Solution Center is located at 168-25 91st Ave., 2nd floor, Jamaica; 718.577.2150. Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., evening classes or events hours Monday and Wednesday, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

In the last year, SBS has helped 170 businesses secure more than $11.8 million in financing, provided 2,200 clients with free business education courses, saved clients an average of $2,000 on legal fees to structure their business and review contracts, helped more than 400 businesses hire 5,000 employees and worked with more than 5,000 entrepreneurs to develop long-range business plans. Since 2005, New York City has awarded more than $5.6 million to 51 companies to train nearly 3,700 workers, matched by more than $7.3 million in employer contributions. For more information about NYC Business Solution Centers or the assistance they provide, visit www.nyc.gov or call 311.


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