Main Street Wednesday — New York City Wants to be Small Business Friendly

February 25, 2015

By Bob Coleman
Editor, Main Street Wednesday

“Small Business First is about changing the way the city of New York interacts with small business owners,” says Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“When a representative of the city walks through the door of a small business for the first time, we want the owner to see a partner. From streamlining the permitting process to increasing accessibility to resources online and in multiple languages to providing more one-on-one counseling so business owners can increase compliance and avoid fines, this is a concerted effort across the administration to ensure our small business owners have the resources and support they need to flourish.”

The $27 million Small Business First initiatives include:

Consolidating locations for businesses to find and process applications, permits and information across agencies — both in person and online.

Creating one place — both in person and online — for business owners to settle the majority of fines and violations.

Helping businesses navigate regulatory processes, such as providing pre-inspection walkthroughs to help them comply before receiving fines or violations.

Translating resources and informational materials into multiple languages.

“Over the coming weeks, months and years, we will work to transform the city’s regulatory environment, making it easier for small businesses to understand the rules and interact with the city, and thereby saving them valuable time and money,” says Maria Torres-Springer, commissioner of the city Department of Small Business Services.