Assemblyman Marc Butler (R,C,I-Newport) attended a meeting of the Assembly Minority Small Business Task Force this past Thursday, April 13 in Binghamton to discuss tactics used by successful businesses in New York and strategies to get more business to locate to New York. In conjunction with his seat on the Assembly Economic Development Committee, Assemblyman Butler provides critical insight towards helping businesses locate Upstate.
“Being the ranking member of the Economic Development Committee and my service on the Small Business Task Force means I’m particularly well-suited to help businesses survive in the unique environment of Upstate New York,” said Butler. “Since this Task Force was created this year we introduced key legislation that will help businesses flourish in our state.”
Some of the ideas advanced by the Small Business Task Force include:
- Increased funding for the Main Street Revitalization program,
- Restoring the 1 percent lower tax rate for small businesses,
- Providing a Small Business Energy Tax Reduction,
- Establishing a Small Business Training Tax Credit equal to the amount expended by businesses that provide job training,
- A prompt payment law for small businesses with state contracts and require at least 15 percent of state contracts be held with small businesses, and
- Provide education grants to business owners and employees for courses necessary to support and advance a micro-enterprise business.
“With 98 percent of business in New York being small businesses and more than half of all New Yorkers are employed by small businesses, we can’t afford not to act,” concluded Butler. “It is my hope that the Small Business Task Force will help renew small businesses in my district and attract new business statewide.”
The Assembly Minority Small Business Task Force travels throughout New York state gathering input and feedback from small businesses and industrial organizations trying to find out what makes businesses stay and what makes them leave. The main priority of this group, in addition to attracting new business, is to retain existing business.