Senators Metzger and Skoufis Draw Nearly 100 Attendees To Orange County Small Business Forum

**PRESS RELEASE**

Senators Metzger and Skoufis Draw Nearly 100 Attendees To Orange County Small Business Forum 

Goshen, NY...Last evening, State Senators Jen Metzger (SD-42) and James Skoufis (SD-39) joined forces to host an informational forum for small businesses in Orange County. The event, taking place at the Goshen Public Library & Historical Society, focused on state and local services and assistance programs for small businesses. During the evening, Senators Metzger and Skoufis provided an update on the legislation advanced during the 2019 session to support the small business community. With 94 people in attendance, the forum was the highest-attended event that Senator Metzger has sponsored since coming into office.

Local and regional business leaders were featured as panelists, including representatives from the New York Small Business Development Center, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, and The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA).

“99.8 percent of businesses in New York are considered small,” shared Ashley Ranslow, Assistant State Director at National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). Illustrating the many reasons it is critical to nurture local entrepreneurship, Ranslow also noted that 7,600 small businesses in Orange County employ 59,000 workers and that $0.67 of every dollar spent at a small business stays in a local community.

“Understanding the challenges that our small business community faces is vital, and working together, Senator Skoufis and I will continue to fight at the state level to assure their long-term success,” said Senator Jen Metzger. “As the experts on our panel underscored, small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy in Orange County, and I’m pleased that we had the opportunity to connect owners and their employees with valuable tools and information to help them grow and thrive.”

“It was a privilege to host this small business forum in Orange County alongside Senator Metzger," said Senator James Skoufis. "It’s important to take the time to understand the hurdles that small business owners are confronted with every day and how we as Legislators can fight for them. I thank our panelists for sharing their expertise, and for all the business owners who attended and lent their voice to these important discussions. I look forward to working together and continuing to bring the Hudson Valley’s small business voice to Albany.”

Jen Metzger represents the 42nd Senate District, which includes all of Sullivan County and parts of Delaware, Orange, and Ulster Counties. Senator Metzger serves as Chair of the Agriculture Committee and sits on the Environmental Conservation, Education, Health, Energy and Telecommunications, Local Government, Women’s Issues, Domestic Animal Welfare, and Legislative Commission on Rural Resources Committees. 

James Skoufis represents the 39th Senate District, which includes parts of Orange, and Ulster, and Rockland Counties. Senator Skoufis serves as Chairman of the Investigations and Government Operations Committee and sits on the Agriculture, Finance, Internet and Technology, Local Government, Transportation, and Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committees.

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