TESTIMONY
Testimony by Meredith Phillips Almeida, Director of NYC Small Business Resource Network on Small Business Funding
1:53:13
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135 sec
Meredith Phillips Almeida testifies on behalf of the NYC Small Business Resource Network, requesting the restoration and baselining of $1.5 million in funding for FY25 and $500,000 for the Five Borough Chamber Alliance. She emphasizes the importance of the Small Business Resource Network program in providing support to small businesses.
- Highlights the absence of funding for SBRN in the FY25 budget
- Stresses the importance of building relationships and trust with businesses
- Emphasizes proactive support to ensure businesses know where to find help before crises occur
Meredith Phillips Almeida
1:53:13
Test test 1.
1:53:17
Good afternoon.
1:53:18
Thank you, chair and committee members.
1:53:20
As Randy mentioned, my name is Meredith Phillips.
1:53:23
I'll maybe I'm here to speak specifically about the Small Business Resource Network and request the restoration and baselining of the 1,500,000 that appeared in FY 24.
1:53:32
Into FY 25 and also for the restoration of 500,000 for the Five borough Chamber alliance.
1:53:37
At this moment, there is no funding for SBRN and FY 25 budget.
1:53:41
So we're here to talk about how important this program is launched in 2020 as a pandemic business recovery effort.
1:53:48
SBRN is a comp prehensive approach to small business resiliency that offers free personalized guidance for small businesses and incorporates few special sauce components.
1:53:58
I also like I always like to talk about field outreach, meeting businesses where they are, at time serving businesses where they are, and the ability to connect businesses to resources from both the public and private sector.
1:54:12
So, again, originally launched as a pandemic recovery of We're still out there today.
1:54:18
Our team is serving thousands of businesses.
1:54:20
I don't need to tell you that we don't need a pandemic for small businesses to need support.
1:54:24
So the need is still relevant and important as ever.
1:54:28
Our team is in the field, like Randy said, communicating in multiple languages, connecting businesses who are traditionally disconnected from information about these support services in a case management model.
1:54:39
It's not about just sending an email or saying, let's attend a webinar.
1:54:43
When extra support is needed, our team is there to hand hold to help complete application.
1:54:48
To stay involved for an extended period, especially when humans are required for problem solving.
1:54:54
Right?
1:54:54
This is what what is needed.
1:54:57
I always say that, if you heard me talk about this before, I say this all the time, I think the key to resiliency is knowing where to find help before you are in crisis.
1:55:06
When you have a flood or your refrigeration system breaks down, that's not the time to start googling and figure out where you need help So what I think is key to our program is our team is making relationships through trust sort of, you know, in the field creating these relationships so businesses know where to go and connect to these in in city and private sector programs.
1:55:27
Thank you.