Senate Resolution No. 497

BY: Senator RYAN S

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 19, 2025, 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 19, 2025,
as Small Business Development Centers Day in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Small Business Development Centers Day is a nationwide
celebration recognizing the profound impact that America's Small
Business Development Centers (SBDCs) have on the entrepreneurs,
creators, and hardworking individuals who drive our nation's small
business community forward; and

WHEREAS, SBDC Day aims to highlight the shared mission of nearly
1,000 Small Business Development Centers across the country, along with
the hundreds of thousands of small business owners they assist annually;
together, SBDCs and their expert advisors share transformative success
stories, showcasing the vital role they play in strengthening local
economies and fostering small business growth; and

WHEREAS, National Small Business Development Centers Day was first
observed in 2017 in recognition of the thousands of SBDCs across the
country that support entrepreneurs in the pursuit of their small
business dreams; and

WHEREAS, With a focus on 1-on-1 business advisement, business
education, and data-driven specialty programming, the SBDC program is
the country's largest and most successful management and technical
assistance program for small businesses; and

WHEREAS, The New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC)
network includes 20 regional centers and over 70 satellite offices
across the state; in 2024 alone, NYSBDC provided support to more than
31,000 small businesses and entrepreneurs, hosted over 500 workshops,
and facilitated a financial impact exceeding $240 million; and

WHEREAS, In 2024, the NYSBDC proudly marked its 40th anniversary,
reflecting on four decades of unparalleled service to New York's small
business community; since its founding, NYSBDC advisors have assisted
over 580,000 businesses, contributed to the creation or preservation of
more than 260,000 jobs, and generated a total financial impact
surpassing $8.7 billion; and

WHEREAS, Small Business Development Center 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, SBDCs and their advisors are also first responders for
small businesses in the aftermath of disasters, having worked with
closely 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, The NYSBDC network is hosted at 13 SUNY campuses, 5 CUNY
campuses, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas College and Pace University; the
SBDC is a joint federal and state 1-to-1 match program administered by
the State University of New York (SUNY), ensuring comprehensive,
statewide access to small business resources; and

WHEREAS, As the primary resource provider of technical assistance
for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SBDCs deliver over 93%
of the SBA's technical assistance to small businesses, solidifying their
role as the go-to resource for America's entrepreneurs; and

WHEREAS, Small Business Development Centers are nationally
accredited organizations, required to hit rigorous and verifiable impact
goals every year with the U.S. Small Business Administration; the GAO
(Government Accountability Office) previously commended the SBDC program
noting SBDC's best practices including impact metrics, accreditation
practices, annual programmatic/financial audits, comprehensive
local/regional/state/federal collaborations and program effectiveness;
and

WHEREAS, On this Small Business Development Centers Day, we
celebrate the legacy, achievements, and continued commitment of SBDCs to
the dreamers, doers, and innovators who fuel our economy and shape our
communities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 19, 2025, as Small
Business Development Centers Day 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.