Small Business

The Small Business Committee provides a forum for small business owners, advocates, and community members to discuss the issues and challenges facing small businesses in Community District 8.

Small Business Committee Members:
Bill Angelos and Alida Camp,  Co-Chairs
P. Gayle Baron
Michele Birnbaum

Small Business Committee Public Members:
Matthew Bauer
Jonathan Hartig

Staff Liaison:
Jon Kraus

Current Agenda

Archived Agendas, Minutes and Resolutions

Community Resources

  • CitizensNYC Business Grant Information Session |WH-SBC| 05/27/26, scheduled for 12 PM. Reserve your free spot today at the resource linked here.
  • The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Manhattan Retail Storefront Wellbeing Survey (Spring 2026). Insights from this survey will be published in June 2026, as part of the Manhattan Storefront Vitality Report. For more information, check out the survey form linked here.
  • NYC Small Business Month Expo, Thursday, May 28th, starting at 9 AM. Free resources, consultations, workshops, and networking to help solve the 6 top challenges NYC small business owners face – all in one place! For more information, check the resource flyer linked here.
  • Pace University's SBDC Small Business offers a variety of training programs to businesses, for more information regarding upcoming events, please use the resource linked here.
  • Check out ​The Summer of Opportunity Guide:​  Tips for NYC Restaurants, Bars and Shops to Capitalize on Summer 2026 Events
  • Submit your storefront to the Summer 2026 Live NYC Map: During summer 2026, the map will be promoted to visitors traveling to NYC for the FIFA World Cup 26™ and the Sail4th 250 celebration—helping tourists discover unique local shops and driving foot traffic to neighborhood businesses. Note this promotion opportunity is free.
  • Free webinars to help businesses prep for summer 2026:
  • The Dept. of Small Business Services has launched the NYC Funds Finder, the city’s first free funding marketplace for small business owners. Funds Finder can help connect business owners  with responsible lenders, grants, and personalized support — 40 vetted loans and grants on one easy-to-use platform. Learn more at the link.
  • The NYC Police Department CONNECT NEW YORK program, more information is provide at the resource linked here.
  • 42nd St and 8th Ave, above the A, C, E train platforms (MTA Retail Space, Unit 15); 208 sqft at $800/month; December move-in. Apply here.
  • The NYC Department of Small Business Services offers a variety of email newsletters with very helpful information on City resources and upcoming events. It's easy to sign up for SBS newsletters.
  • The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is offering My Business Finance Coach in partnership with Next Street to strengthen small business owners’ finances. Meet with a professional business coach for support in separating personal and business expenses; developing financial projections; taxes check-in and check-up; understanding financial documents; and a Quickbooks® overview. Learn more at the link.
  • Cornell Law School’s Entrepreneurship Law Clinic, which provides pro bono transactional law services to small businesses and startups in Ithaca, is expanding to New York City and Cornell Tech. Based at the Blassberg-Rice Center for Entrepreneurship Law at Cornell Tech, postgraduate students will offer free legal services to entrepreneurs who are building the foundations of their businesses. Learn more at the links.
  • Whether you’re a new business signing a lease on your first space, or you’re working on a lease renewal, the Commercial Lease Assistance Program from NYC Small Business Services, is able to help with free legal assistance. Visit the link or call 888-SBS-4NYC.
  • Link.nyc is offering these upcoming promotions in their LinkLocal program: In August, for National Black Small Business Month, black-owned small businesses can advertise free on four nearby kiosks.  In October, women-owned small businesses will be able to advertise their business on four neighborhood kiosks. Apply to participate using this LinkNYC form.
  • NYC Business Quick Start: An interagency effort to make it easier for small businesses to start, operate and grow.