MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION RENAMING DEPARTMENT OF BUISNESS SERVICES AS DEPARMENT OF SMALL BUISNESS SERVICES

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

“The next bill before me today is Introductory Number 231-A, sponsored at my request by Council Members Perkins, Baez, Felder, Nelson, Sanders and Weprin.  This bill will change the name of the Department of Business Services to the Department of Small Business Services (DSBS).  Changing the agency’s name to better reflect its mission is an important step in effectively communicating the agency’s role to the public and to those businesses that may need the type of assistance that DSBS offers.

“There are approximately 200,000 small businesses in New York City, which constitute nearly 98% of all businesses in the City.  These small businesses employ nearly half of the City’s private sector labor force and account for 40% of private sector wages.  The mission of DSBS is to support the growth and development of the City’s small businesses by providing business assistance, fostering neighborhood development and promoting financial and economic opportunity through government procurement.  The agency is always working to retain and attract small businesses by providing a network of services that include incentive programs; emergency assistance to small businesses and helping small businesses resolve problems with City agencies and public utilities.

“This name change will clearly identify the Department of Small Business Services as the City agency designed to assist the small business community and will create a greater public awareness that the agency is a destination for small business owners seeking assistance.”