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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 329-11
September 18, 2011

MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES CONCRETE STEPS NEW YORK CITY IS TAKING TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS CREATE JOBS AND INCREASE WAGES IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

The following is the text of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, September 18, 2011

"Good Morning.  This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

"The solution to getting the economy back in high gear: Plain and simple, it's more jobs.  That's why we're highly focused on creating more jobs, putting more New Yorkers to work in them, and, in the bargain, helping employees gain the skills that make them more valuable workers, and better paid, too.

"In meeting those goals, our small businesses make a big difference. They've accounted for a lot of our job recovery. They've employed many of the record 31,000 New Yorkers that the City's Workforce1 Centers placed in jobs last year - a record we intend to break with 35,000 job placements in 2011. To keep the momentum going, last year our Department of Small Business Services helped nearly 640 entrepreneurs secure $21 million in the financing that will keep businesses and payrolls growing.

"In Sunset Park last week, I also saw another example of what we're doing to expand the economic pie for small businesses and their workers, too. A dried fruit and nut packaging company there called Terrafina is flourishing and primed to increase its workforce by 50 percent over the next 18 months. To help them grow, we've provided a job-training grant of about $28,000 that the employers are matching with about $16,000 of their own. Workers will learn skills that will help Terrafina market their products to major retailers. And as a result, their paychecks will go up about 10 percent - a win for the owners, workers, and taxpayers, too. SBS is currently awarding nearly $700,000 in such grants to companies across the city, and come November, employers can start pre-applying for another round of funding. To find out more, visit the SBS web page at nyc.gov, or call 311 and ask about 'training funds.'

"One of the City's major employers, our tourism and hospitality industry, also continues to put up strong job creation numbers - and not just in Midtown Manhattan. Case in point: Last week, I took part in grand opening ceremonies for two hotels in Downtown Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Sheraton and its Starwood sister hotel, the Brooklyn Aloft. Together, they've created more than 200 new jobs. In fact, Brooklyn will see a total of eight new hotels open during 2011 - more proof that cultural venues, stores, new parks and other attractions are making Brooklyn a destination in its own right. In addition, seven new hotels have also opened in one Queens community - Long Island City - in just the past two years.

"Public investments are fostering private growth in all five boroughs - and like our small business assistance efforts, they're helping put New Yorkers in all five boroughs to work, too.  There's nothing we're doing that other cities couldn't do, too.  And for the good of the nation, we'd love to see them try.

"This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.  Thanks for listening."







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