Small Business Saturday: Saturday Nov. 30th

Shop Local: Small Business Saturday Coming

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Rockaway reasons to shop local. Visitors and residents are asked to come out and support small businesses from Far Rockaway toBreezy Point and Broad Channel on Small Business Saturday, November 30th. Photo by Dan GuarinoWith the holiday season coming up, State Senator Joseph Addabbo says, “for many of our small businesses and ‘mom and pop’ stores, it’s the time of year to hopefully look forward with anticipation and optimism about finishing the year on an economic high note.”

“In other words,” he noted, “it’s a critical time for some of our local merchants and their employees, who are often local residents, to sink or swim.”

Over a year later, many businesses in the Rockaways and Broad Channel are still struggling to surmount the double blow of severe damage from the hurricane and the loss of holiday business last year before they could reopen.

To help local small businesses, the senator and other local outlets are reminding residents and visitors to shop local on November 30th. Nationally known as Small Business Saturday, it is a day to support local small businesses.

First observed on November 27th, 2010, Small Business Saturday was promoted by American Express as a way for individuals to patronize neighborhood retailers at the kick-off of the holiday shopping season.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are 23 million small businesses in the nation. These enterprises account for 54% of all U.S. sales.

Recently, there has been an emphasis to assist small businesses in the Rockaways.

The Queens Economic Development Corp held the Roll Up The Gates Storefront Stroll on Beach 116th Street for potential retailer tenants.

In Albany, Senator Addabbo points out, many legislators, including himself, have introduced legislation and supported budget initiatives that included nearly $800 million in tax relief for New York businesses over three years and tax credits for the hiring of veterans and younger residents between the ages of 18-25.

The Empire State Economic Development Corp. is the primary agency charged with helping small businesses. Among its many programs that help proprietors secure loans or other resources are:

The Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (EAP), provides instruction, training, technical assistance and support services to entrepreneurs who have recently opened a business or want to start one. Queens business owners are served by the EAP office located at One Pike Street, New York, NY 10002; 212-964-6022, ext. 138, or log on to www.renaissance-ny.org.

The Small Business Revolving Loan Fund is a $50 million fund designed to create economic activity by providing greater access to capital for main street shops. It is targeted to those small businesses that have had difficulty accessing regular credit markets. Visit www.nyfirst.ny.gov for more details.

Additional websites for small business resources include:

New York State’s Small Business Resource Center, administered by the Empire State Economic Development Corporation, at www.nyfirst.ny.gov;

State University of New York Small Business Development Center at www.nyssbdc.org;

New York City Department of Small Business Services at www.nycsbs.gov;

New York City Public Library’s NYC Small Business Resource Center at www.nypl.org/smallbiz;

Queens Library at Far Rockaway's Small Business Resource Center at www.queenslibrary.org;

Start-Up New York at startupny.com/;

U.S. Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov/.