Chamber Hosts SBS Commissioner for Small Business Month Event
To celebrate Small Business Month, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce hosted an “Afternoon Tea” meet and greet event with NYC Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Dynishal Gross to chat about the role of SBS and its ongoing support of the 183,000 businesses city wide, including here on Staten Island.
50 business professionals came together at the Island Chateau for a conversation with Commissioner Gross and Staten Island Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Linda Baran, to learn about the help available for small businesses and entrepreneurs. They heard about free resources and assistance including Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification, agencies that assist businesses with fines such as OATH, the city’s Workforce1 centers, commercial lease assistance, and more.
Commissioner Gross announced that the exam for the Food Protection Course will now be offered at the College of Staten Island, a huge win for Staten Islanders. Previously, employees seeking to obtain a food handler’s license, as required by the NYC Health Code, had to travel out of the borough to take the final exam. Baran attributed this win to the work being done by the Mayor’s Small Business Advisory Commission (SBS), of which she is a member.
“It may seem like a simple ask, but it wouldn’t have happened without the persistence of fellow SBAC member businessman Richard Nicotra who brought up the need to offer a local test at most every meeting,” said Baran.
The Small Business Resource Network (SBRN), The Staten Island Business Outreach Center, the Business Solutions Center of Staten Island, and SBS also had tables at the event to inform businesses about some of the free resources they provide.
“It was a fun and informative afternoon. We thank Commissioner Gross for joining us in celebration of NYC Small Business Month here on Staten Island” said Baran. “We deeply appreciate her commitment to supporting and empowering the small businesses in neighborhoods in every part of NYC .”
The Staten Island Small Business Month event was just the latest one taking place around the five boroughs. SBS will culminate the month with its 2025 NYC Small Business Month Expo on Thursday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Center415 in Manhattan. For more info and registration for this free event, visit here.
