New York State Small Business Task Force Report

This Report represents efforts of Task Force members who have worked to formulate recommendations that would have a substantive impact on small business growth and development in New York, including: increasing access to capital, implementing regulatory and administrative reforms, and improving work force training and technical assistance programs. The recommendations that impact workforce development include the following:

• Integrate Economic Development and Workforce Training Activities through a Sector-Based Strategy. This effort should build on the work of the National Governor’s Association Sector Academy, which is focusing on three industry clusters: green, advanced manufacturing and health care.
• Create and Expand a Layoff Aversion Program. The State Department of Labor (DOL) is in the process of creating Emergency Response Teams that will assist small businesses in distress with consulting on business turnaround, layoff aversion and Employee Stock Ownership Programs. The Task Force supports the initiation of this pilot program encourages statewide expansion as soon as possible.
• Increase On-the-Job Training Opportunities. The Task Force urges DOL to use its federal Workforce Investment Act funding to leverage greater local participation by providing matching support on a competitive basis for up to 50 On-the-Job Training (OJT) projects of between five and 10 workers each. The Task Force also supports DOL’s plan to enhance OJT by providing an additional incentive to businesses that hire the long-term unemployed.
• Improve Opportunities for Youth in Small Business. A portion of the Workforce Investment Act resources should be set aside to leverage local funding of creative youth/small business projects. A fund of $750,000, matched at the local level by a 2-1 ratio, could support 10 competitively selected projects linking youth to small business opportunities.