While all eyes are on the novel coronavirus, legislative work in Albany continues. One of my main concerns is helping small business. Increasing opportunities for small businesses and strengthening workforce development programs helps foster a thriving economy. From family-owned farms to restaurants and medical practices, Central New York is home to many small businesses, and I’ve been committed to helping these beloved local spots grow and prosper. Last year, I held numerous roundtables across the state to hear directly from small-business owners about the types of roadblocks they face and how we can combat these issues moving forward. I want you to know that I not only listened to your concerns but have turned them into action. I’ll continue fighting to find solutions for our local entrepreneurs that put Central New York, as well as the rest of the state, on the path toward a bright and successful future.

According to Senior Service America, older workers will comprise 25% of the labor workforce by 2024. It’s imperative that we help ensure our older residents stay connected with their communities and have the support they need to continue working, which is why I sponsored a bill to establish an Office of Older Adult Workforce Development within the state Office for the Aging (A.9815). By helping older workers overcome the barriers they might face when joining or reentering the workforce, we can show our gratitude for the years of hard work these individuals have contributed to our state and region while ensuring they aren’t left behind as they continue boosting the economy.

While our state offers numerous programs that aim to help small businesses flourish, many businesses are unaware of these resources and, therefore, miss out on many incredible opportunities to expand and improve. To make this information more readily available, I’m introducing legislation to require the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) and other state entities to work together to collect and publish information about these programs on the ESDC website (A.10119). Further, to help ensure new businesses are quickly made aware of these resources, I’m also sponsoring a measure that requires the secretary of state to send a list of services and their contact information to businesses in their beginning stages (A.10123). This way, these useful programs will not be overlooked and more small-business owners can take advantage of the benefits that will help their ventures take off and succeed. Another roadblock small businesses face is the fiscal burden of complying with the state’s sexual harassment training requirement. In this effort, I sponsored a measure that lessens the economic burden to small business by creating a tax credit for every employee to attend training (A.10117).

As a former small-business owner and chair of the Assembly’s Small Business Committee, I’ll always work hard to give New York small businesses and workers every opportunity to succeed. I look forward to continuing to work together to further advance our workforce and bring real progress to the communities we know and love.

My door is always open. If you have questions or concerns about this or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at 315-452-1115 or StirpeA@nyassembly.gov.