Commissioner Gregg Bishop kicked off @CityAndStateNY's #OnSmallBusiness event this morning by sharing how we're making NYC #Better4Biz (at NYU Kimmel Center)
Recently, more than 90 members of the Strategic Steps for Growth (SS4G) network attended the program's first-ever alumni networking event in Midtown Manhattan. Alumni, current participants, instructors, former guest speakers, program partners, and the NYC Creative Masterminds networking group reconnected with old friends and made new contacts.
This event will be followed by a series of workshops designed to support alumni in implementing their Strategic Growth Action Plan™ and provide continuing opportunities for professional development.
Photos courtesy SS4G Media & Entertainment 2012-13 Alum Chris Alvarez / Transcendent Enterprise
Recently, the NYC Department of Small Business Services awarded nearly $300,000 in training funds through our Customized Training program to help six NYC businesses train a total of 167 employees.
Facing competition from the growing Brooklyn restaurant scene, fast casual burger restaurant 67 Burger will train 25 staff across two locations in order to provide a customer experience unique to their refreshed brand. In addition to this brand-centered management and customer service training, back of house staff, including five cooks and 10 counter people, will participate in training to receive their food safety certificates.
After being devastated by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Architectural Grille, a veteran-owned manufacturer of metal grilles based in Gowanus, Brooklyn, received a Customized Training grant in 2014 to train a portion of its staff in JobBoss, AutoCad, Lean Mastery, and other machine-specific software to increase productivity, sales, and customer retention. As a result of training, they were able to increase labor productivity by 7%, have reapplied to train a different cohort of 19 employees to receive these skills, and expanded the training plan to include TimeSaver software, customer service, and marketing.
Ena’s Driving School, a veteran-owned, certified M/WBE driving school with two locations in in Queens, offers driving lessons for individuals and businesses on cars, buses, vans, tractor trailers, and motorcycles. With plans to expand to a third location in Brooklyn, the business will train nine office staff on Ena’s proprietary scheduling software, web-development, cybersecurity, customer service and Microsoft Office Suite. Five drivers will also receive additional driving training in different categories.
Bronx-based Fancy Foods, a wholesale protein distributor of meat and poultry products (and previous Customized Training awardee), will be training 19 employees in supervisory, project management, customer service, and sales skills to improve customer retention and acquisition rates as they expand into the organic and Latino markets.
NYC-based online retail group Gogotech II has multiple websites connecting consumers to more than 60 brands. Over the course of this project, they will train 70 employees from their Manhattan office on digital marketing, user experience design, data analysis, and Microsoft Excel.
Salon 718, is a woman-owned provider of high-quality haircut and color services with three locations in Brooklyn. The business is looking to train and subsequently promote employees to generate additional revenue and expand to a total of five locations by 2017. Twenty employees will receive training in customer services, coloring, make-up and haircuts, styling and hair extensions.
Customized Training provides funding to help NYC businesses invest in talent. You pick the training and we cover up to 70% of the costs! Applications are accepted year round. The next application deadline is March 25, 2016.
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Watch for New York City from Saturday morning, January 23, at 4 a.m. through Sunday afternoon, January 24, at 12 p.m.
The system is forecast to bring heavy snow along with strong and potentially damaging winds, and will create slick and hazardous travel conditions. Total snow accumulation is expected to be between 8 to 12 inches.
The City has issued a hazardous travel advisory for Saturday, January 23, through Sunday, January 24.
All winter weather information and information about the City's response to the storm can be found by visiting the City's Severe Weather website at nyc.gov/severeweather or by calling 311.
New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City's free emergency notification system online, call 311, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.
Severe weather conditions can destroy storefront façades, building structures, roofs, awnings, shatter façade glass/windows, etc. Additionally, severe weather conditions can also damage sidewalks, equipment, and merchandise.
Once weather permits, business owners should be mindful of the following information »
Our Business Preparedness and Resiliency Program can help you prepare your business for for emergencies and enhance the resiliency of your operations, assets, and physical space.
NYC Restaurant Week is always one of the season’s highlights, offering prix-fixe meals from January 18 to February 5 at more than 370 of New York City’s finest eateries.
Before you book your table, check out these tips from NYC & Company to make sure you get all the gourmet goodness from the tastiest time of the year »
Businesses Making Capital Improvements Eligible for Sales Tax Exemptions Up to $100K
A-STEP, administered by the New York City Industrial Development Agency, offers sales tax exemptions to small businesses through a streamlined application process. Businesses making capital improvements are eligible to receive sales tax exemptions of up to $100,000. Â
Industrial and manufacturing companies across all five boroughs are eligible to apply.
Commercial and retail businesses are considered if they are located in highly-distressed areas, defined as having above average unemployment and poverty rates.
Thinking About Creative on Instagram: Three Small Businesses Weigh In
(via instagram-business)
Instagram is a diverse, global community of people who have a wide range of interests from lifestyle content and pop culture, to humor and sports. Now that advertisers have access to the same buying, targeting and measurement tools that they do on Facebook, creative content on Instagram is just as diverse and relevant as those interests. As a result, we’re seeing a range of creative approaches from businesses on the platform — from re-purposing creative from other channels to creating unique content specific to Instagram.
Take a look at how three small businesses are successfully approaching creative on Instagram in different ways »
FastTrac® NewVenture™ is a 40-hour program designed for aspiring and early stage entrepreneurs.
With the guidance of successful entrepreneurs, experienced facilitators, and a supportive peer community, FastTrac® NewVenture™ will help you refine your business concept, identify the components of a strong business plan, and access the appropriate resources to complete your launch.
Our course curriculum covers the following topics, and much more:
Our Women Entrepreneurs NYC (WE NYC) initiative is launching a tailored set of services designed to address the key challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. To facilitate networking for New York City’s women entrepreneurs, WE NYC held its first WE Connect Event at the Foundry in Long Island City, Queens on January 9.
Attended by more than 75 women entrepreneurs, the event focused on developing confidence and included a rousing keynote from acclaimed fashion designer and WE NYC Advisory Council member Norma Kamali on taking risks and having the confidence to be bold. Norma’s inspiring speech focused on small ways women can take care of themselves through diet, exercise, and daily balance, as well as by embracing bold vision and change.
Based on feedback gathered by WE NYC staff in focus groups, the event also included structured networking for attendees. Following the keynote, women entrepreneurs were asked to participate in small group discussions led by a SBS staff member. Women introduced themselves and their businesses, shared challenges they’ve faced, and flexed their “ask muscles” – garnering peer support and ideas.
Announcing Citywide Expansion of Chamber On-the-Go
Last week, the NYC Department of Small Business Services announced the citywide expansion of Chamber On-the-Go, in partnership with NYC Council Member Robert E. Cornegy Jr. and the Chambers of Commerce from all five boroughs (Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Queens Chamber of Commerce, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce).
Focused on communities with high need and limited access to services, Chamber On-the-Go will deploy trained business specialists to conduct storefront visits and connect 2,000 New York City small business owners with free, tailored supportive services that can help their businesses thrive.
NY1 covered the expanded initiative launch at small business Jontue Discount Boutique in Far Rockaway with NYC Council Member Donovan Richards, the Chamber Presidents, and local business organizations in attendance.
Pictured, from left: SBS Commissioner Gregg Bishop, Jontue Discount Boutique owner Pauline Gayle, NYC Council Member Robert E. Cornegy Jr., NYC Council Member Donovan Richards, and Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Thomas J. Grech.
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