Assembly Resolution No. 299

BY: M. of A. Thiele

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
April 30-May 6, 2017, as Small Business Week in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, In New York, the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of
small businesses, minority- and women-owned businesses, and
entrepreneurs are vital to the prosperity and vibrancy of every
community across this great State and nation; and

WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, over 400,000
enterprises qualify as small businesses in New York State, comprising 97
percent of the State's established firms with 100 or fewer people; and

WHEREAS, The 2014 Small Business Administration Profile of New York
State Small Businesses listed the four State sectors with the most small
business employment as: health care and social assistance; accommodation
and food services; retail trade; and professional, scientific, and
technical services; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade
Administration reported that 39,941 companies exported goods from New
York State in 2014, and of these, 37,568 or 94% were small and
medium-sized firms, which generated 53% of New York's total known export
value; and

WHEREAS, New York State actively supports Minority- and Women-Owned
Business Enterprises (MWBE) by supporting a State procurement
contracting goal of 30 percent 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, 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, 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 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; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 30-May 6, 2017,
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 Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.