NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) joined the AABANY Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee on June 28 for an information session on how to utilize SBS services. The event took place at the SBS offices at One Liberty Plaza in the Financial District. The Department of SBS’s current commissioner is Kevin Kim, a former Board Officer of AABANY. The twenty AABANY participants in attendance were impressed by SBS programs targeted towards small business owners, which include law firm owners, and could help lawyers assist their small business clients.
“We spent over $20 billion in contracts with minority and women-owned businesses last year,” shared Kitty Chan, Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Small Business Services. Ms. Chan encouraged all AABANY participants to sign up for M/WBE certification to receive opportunities for contracts directly with the city. “The team at SBS is here to help you set up your profile and identify opportunities that work for you or your clients,” added Anna Yakubova, Assistant Commissioner of M/WBE Recruitment and Eligibility.
Other programs discussed by Ms. Chan, Ms. Yakubova, and Michael Fong, Executive Director of Government Navigation, were NYC Business Express Service Team (BEST), NYC Small Business Month, Commercial Lease Assistance, Workforce1 Career Centers, and other programs to help businesses with training, financing, and legal assistance.
“SBS is an amazing resource for solo and small law firms and we look forward to our AABANY members actively engaging with SBS going forward,” said Yen-Yi Anderson, Co-Chair of the AABANY Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee, after the event.
“We are all very grateful that SBS spent their valuable time educating us about the many benefits of their programs,” added committee Co-Chair Vishal Chander.
After the event, the speakers and participants networked and enjoyed a spread of samosas and chai provided by East Village’s Desi Galli restaurant.
Thank you to the speakers, participants, and the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee for a fruitful discussion and an engaging event. Click here to learn more about the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee and how to get involved.