Assembly Resolution No. 985

BY: M. of A. Woerner

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 20, 2024, as Small Business Development
Centers Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
entrepreneurs and small businesses that contribute substantially to the
economic and social vitality of their communities, thereby enhancing
economic and social well-being of the entire Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim Wednesday, March 20, 2024,
as Small Business Development Centers Day in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) Day is a
national, collective observation of the impact that America's SBDCs have
on the success of our nation's dreamers, innovators, and doers who
embody such small businesses; and

WHEREAS, First observed in 2017, SBDCs Day unites the nearly 1,000
SBDC centers across the country and the hundreds of thousands of clients
they serve every year by sharing, in real time, the success stories and
significant impacts SBDCs and their business advisors have had on the
small business community at large; and

WHEREAS, The Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953
by an act of Congress, reflecting federal awareness of the importance of
small businesses to the nation's economy and the need for federal
government involvement in fostering a climate in which small businesses
could flourish; and

WHEREAS, The Association of Small Business Development Centers was
officially formed in 1979 with a focus on one-on-one business
advisement, business education, and data-driven specialty programming;
proving lastingly significant, the SBDC program is the federal
government's largest and most successful management and technical
assistance program for small businesses; and

WHEREAS, The New York SBDC has 20 regional centers and over 70
satellite locations across New York State; in 2023, it provided services
to over 23,000 small businesses, hosted over 550 educational workshops,
and had a financial impact of over $300 million; and

WHEREAS, In 2024, the New York SBDC celebrates its 40th anniversary;
as one of the nation's first small business development networks, small
business advisors within the New York SBDC have, since its inception,
assisted over 580,000 businesses, created, or saved more than 260,000
jobs, and generated a financial impact of over $8.7 billion; and

WHEREAS, SBDC advisory services include assistance at all stages of
the business cycle, covering items such as business plans, financial
projections, market research, marketing support, certifications, and
assistance with identifying funding opportunities; and


WHEREAS, Small Business Development Centers and their advisors also
function as first responders for small businesses in the aftermath of
disasters; these centers worked with New York's small businesses on
recovery and support in the aftermath of events like 9/11, Hurricane
Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, All SBDCs are associated with host academic institutions,
linking higher education institutions with small businesses in their
communities and providing a connection between academic and business
pathways across New York State; and

WHEREAS, New York State SBDCs are currently hosted at 13 SUNY
campuses, 5 CUNY campuses, Columbia University, and Pace University; the
program is administered by the State University of New York and a
resource partner, receiving funding from the U.S. Small Business
Administration; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor those
small businesses within the State of New York which distinguish
themselves through outstanding professional behavior, corporate
innovation, and enduring commitment to the community, and to recognize
their contributions to the economic health and vitality of the
communities they serve; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 20, 2024, as Small
Business Development Centers Day in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.