Senator Kaplan Passes Legislation Supporting Small Businesses in New York State

CARLE PLACE, NY (March 11, 2021) - This week, Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-Great Neck) passed legislation to support and promote New York's small businesses who are still struggling to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation will help small businesses to get direct assistance from New York State agencies and regulators, and also promote the State's local manufacturing sector. The bills passed on the same week that Senator Kaplan's landmark small business commercial eviction and foreclosure moratorium was enacted into law.

"As our state recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, we need to do more to support our small businesses so that they can continue to be an engine for job creation and economic activity in our communities," said Senator Anna M. Kaplan. "We have also learned valuable lessons during the pandemic about the importance of local supply chains and manufacturing of critical needs like PPE. I'm proud that the legislation I passed this week will help small businesses deal with the government with fewer headaches, and will promote the manufacturing of local PPE and all the jobs that come with it."

Legislation authored by Senator Kaplan that passed this week includes:

• S.30 Promote PPE Manufacturers In New York: This legislation authorizes the Empire State Development Corporation to develop a public awareness campaign promoting personal protective clothing and equipment manufacturing businesses located in New York state, supporting the local manufacturing industry and strengthening local supply chains for these critical products.
• S.33 Designate a Small Business Liaison Within State Agencies:This legislation directs five state agencies, Departments of Agriculture & Markets, Environmental Conservation, Transportation, Labor and Taxation & Finance, to appoint an existing employee as a small business liaison to serve as the primary contact for business looking to interact with the agency, giving them a direct hotline to get assistance.