July 28, 2014
By Stephanie West
New York, NY – The New York City Small Business First initiative led by the Mayor’s Office of Operations has been set up to improve the regulatory climate in New York City and help businesses avoid penalties and fines. Through simplification, collaboration, and education, Small Business First will help small businesses comply with the City's rules and regulations.
This collaborative effort will reduce red tape by simplifying rules, improving services to low income and immigrant populations and increase transparency.
“Small Business First is about changing the way the City of New York interacts with small business owners,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “When a representative of the City walks through the door of a small business for the first time, we want the owner to see a partner. From simplifying the rules and regulations to helping small business owners remain compliant, we are bringing together agencies in a concerted effort to ensure our small business owners have the resources and support they need to flourish.”
Over the coming months, the Mayor has charged the Mayor’s Office of Operations and SBS to work closely with participating agencies and solicit public feedback to develop concrete recommendations on how the City can achieve the goals of Small Business First. The Mayor’s Office of Operations and SBS will be working closely with the Departments of Buildings, Consumer Affairs, Environmental Protection, FDNY, Health and Mental Hygiene, and Sanitation, along with projects with OATH, Board of Standards and Appeals, Department of City Planning, and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. Supporting agencies include the Departments of Law, Finance, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.
