New York State Directory of Small Business Programs

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Last Thursday, Governor Paterson and the Governor's Small Business Task Force released the NYS Directory of Small Business Programs. According to the Albany Business Review, the handbook is a result of the work conducted by the Governor’s Small Business Task Force. The task force was made up of business leaders from across the state. The directory describes 143 state programs from 28 agencies aimed at helping New Yorkers start and grow their businesses. Categories include: Funding sources, technical assistance; and work force recruitment. “This directory will create a more open and helpful environment in which local businesses can grow and prosper, providing business owners and entrepreneurs with information on financing, tax breaks, and dozens of other topics,” Paterson said. Mike Elmendorf, New York director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses called the director “an important tool for small employers who currently struggle to navigate the maze of state resources and agencies that impact their businesses.”

Here is what they had to say about the SBDC.

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): Individual business counseling, Research Network Library, workshops, seminars and on-line classes for entrepreneurs who want to start a business, improve the performance of an existing business or learn about government procurement. Services are provided through a network of 24 regional centers and are free of charge or minimally priced.

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