City Tech Opens NYS Small Business Development Center Offering Free Counseling, Training and Research Services From left to right: City University of New York Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, City Tech President Russell K. Hotzler, Congressman Edolphus Towns, U.S. Small Business Regional Administrator Michael Pappas and New York State Small Business Development Center State Director James King. Photo credit: Alberto Vargas. Brooklyn, NY -- April 30, 2008 -- New York City College of Technology (City Tech) has become a new regional center of the New York State Small Business Development Center (NYS SBDC), offering fulltime expert management and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses in Brooklyn. The office, located in the Howard Building, 25 Chapel Street, 11th floor, in Downtown Brooklyn, is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Professional SBDC advisors offer free one-on-one business counseling, research and training. Individuals considering locating or moving a business to Brooklyn can receive help preparing business plans, or simply receive answers to questions about marketing, production issues, finance and other topics. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new center was held on April 29, attended by Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, who as chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee oversees the national SBDC program. Congresswoman Velázquez was joined by fellow Congressman Edolphus Towns, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Matthew Goldstein and City Tech President Russell K. Hotzler in opening the center. "During difficult economic times like these, small businesses are the key to a turnaround," Congresswoman Velázquez said. "I want this to be a proactive center that partners with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Export-Import Bank of the United States to help entrepreneurs find the financing to create and maintain viable businesses." Chancellor Goldstein noted that the addition of the City Tech center means that CUNY colleges in all five boroughs have Small Business Development Centers. "The University has a strong commitment to the economic development and vitality of the city," he said. "We are happy to collaborate with the State of New York and Congresswoman Velázquez on this important venture." "We are proud of this affiliation and what it means for the local business community and our college," said President Hotzler. "The City Tech regional office will assist existing businesses to stabilize and expand while helping entrepreneurs launch new ventures that help create jobs in the borough and help make our communities better places to live. Plus, our students and faculty will have the opportunity to work with the SBDC staff, enhancing the learning experience." Founded in 1984, the NYS SBDC -- through a statewide network of 23 campus-based regional centers and 29 outreach offices -- applies the resources of academia, private sector and government to solve business problems and foster entrepreneurship. It has advised 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. "Ninety percent of businesses in Brooklyn have 20 people or less," said Borough President Markowitz. "The SBDC at City Tech will aid immeasurably in making small business owners' dreams come true." The SBDC emphasizes counseling and training services to women, veterans, people with special needs and minority clients. Services are focused on projects that advance the job development, investment and economic growth priorities of New York State, with an emphasis on manufacturers, exporters and technology-oriented firms. The organization's Research Network, located in Albany, New York, provides the Brooklyn SBDC business advisors with the latest economic, demographic, regulatory and other data that can have an impact on small business success. "We are honored to have CUNY's New York City College of Technology as the lead partner in the Borough of Brooklyn. Brooklyn has a long history of being a strong entrepreneurial leader for New York City and the State, and New York City College of Technology is ideally positioned to build upon that heritage," said James King, NYS SBDC State Director. "We would like to especially thank Congresswoman Velázquez and City Tech President Hotzler for making it possible for the SBDC to become part of this great institution and contribute to the Brooklyn community," King added. Through sponsorship of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, local public and private partners and host campuses, the SBDC offers advisement services to over 15,000 New Yorkers annually to start or improve their business. With training and research, the NYS SBDC assists almost 50,000 New Yorkers every year to explore their dreams of owning a business. To contact the SBDC Office at City Tech, please call 718.797.0187 or e-mail rastorga@citytech.cuny.edu. The largest public college of technology in New York State, City Tech enrolls more than 13,500 students in 57 baccalaureate, associate and specialized certificate programs in 21st century technologies and related fields. Located at 300 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn, City Tech is at the MetroTech Center academic and commercial complex, convenient to public transportation. Newer Story Return To List Older Story