Senate Resolution No. 695

BY: Senator ROLISON

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to declare
April 30-May 6, 2023, as Small Business Week in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, In New York, the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of
our diverse small businesses are vital to the prosperity and vibrancy of
every community across this great State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 632,000
enterprises qualify as small businesses in New York State prior to the
pandemic, comprising 96.05% of the businesses within the State; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade
Administration reported that 36,901 companies exported goods from New
York State prior to the pandemic, and of these, 34,506 or 93.5% were
small and medium-sized firms, which generated 58.3% of New York's total
known export value; and

WHEREAS, New York small businesses employed 4.1 million people, or
49.8 % of New York Employees, prior to the pandemic, which includes
69,042 new jobs since 2018; and

WHEREAS, Small business owners have shown great ingenuity in
overcoming the hardships of the last two years in order to serve the
needs of our communities; and

WHEREAS, New York State actively supports Minority and Women Owned
Business Enterprises (MWBE) by supporting a State procurement
contracting goal of 30% 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, 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 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, Small business owners demonstrate extraordinary resiliency
in the face of larger forces beyond their control, such as climate
change, changing economic times and pandemics; 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; and

WHEREAS, The entrepreneurial spirit of New York residents has led to
the creation and growth of emerging agricultural industries in New York
such as craft beverages, artisanal foods, and the production of hemp and
hops; and

WHEREAS, The members of this Legislative Body wish to proclaim their
recognition of small businesses as a crucial element in the economy of
New York State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to declare April 30-May 6, 2023, 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 Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.