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April 30, 2008

Congresswoman Velázquez Announces
the Opening of New Small Business
Development Center in Brooklyn

Local entrepreneurs receive increased
access to resources and business guidance

Brooklyn, NY – With the opening of a new Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the New York City College of Technology, entrepreneurs in Brooklyn will gain increased access to the resources and technical expertise needed to help start a business or grow their existing firms. At the ribbon cutting yesterday Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y), Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, highlighted the importance of expanding entrepreneurial development services to foster small business growth and strengthen the economy.

“Thousands of New Yorkers every year have the drive to start their own business. With the one-on-one assistance provided at an SBDC, these entrepreneurs can get their operations up and running smoothly. By opening this center in the heart of Brooklyn, we are working to bring new jobs to the community and ensuring that local entrepreneurs have the resources they need to turn their great ideas into successful businesses,” Congresswoman Velázquez said.

As Chairwoman of the Committee on Small Business, Congresswoman Velázquez has worked to ensure that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides the SBDC program with sufficient resources and targets counseling and training services to women, veterans, people with special needs and minority clients. Entrepreneurial development programs have been critical to the success of small business owners nationwide, with studies showing that entrepreneurs who receive this assistance are twice as likely to succeed as those who have not.

“The face of small business in our nation is changing. It’s crucial that federal programs reach out to aspiring entrepreneurs in the heart of our communities and provide resources that match their needs,” Congresswoman Velázquez said. “With the help of training and guidance provided at the SBDC, our local store owners and business innovators can continue to serve a vital role in boosting the economy.”

Since its creation in 1984, the New York State SBDC has assisted over 277,000 New Yorkers, helping them acquire and invest over $3.6 billion in the state's small business economy, helping to create or save 130,000 jobs in New York State. In Brooklyn, SBDC advisors have worked directly with 9,853 businesses, helping them to invest $37 million in the area’s economy and create or save 1,817 jobs.

The City Tech SBDC is located at 25 Chapel Street, 11th floor, in Downtown Brooklyn, and will be open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For a high resolution photograph from the event, click here.