PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ernie Wong, Business Owner of Shanghai MKS
1:21:49
·
3 min
Ernie Wong, owner of Shanghai MKS, testified in support of increasing funding for the Industrial Business Service Providers (IBSP) program. He emphasized the crucial role of Evergreen Exchange, an IBSP, in assisting small businesses and contributing to community growth.
- Wong highlighted Evergreen's support in areas such as advocacy, guidance, education, and fund securement.
- He stressed the importance of the industrial sector, noting it provides nearly 500,000 jobs in NYC and contributes $1.7 billion in tax revenues.
- Wong urged the committee and council to ensure IBSPs have adequate funding and support to continue their work in helping businesses operate and provide high-quality jobs in NYC.
Ernie Wong
1:21:49
Hi, everyone.
1:21:51
Do you hear me?
Amanda FarÃas
1:21:52
Yes.
1:21:52
We can hear you.
Ernie Wong
1:21:54
Hi.
1:21:54
My name is Ernie Wong.
1:21:55
I'm the owner of, Shanghai MKS, a company located at 78 Jared Street, Brooklyn, New York 11206.
1:22:02
We design, build, and service, maintain mobile food trucks and trailers from New York City, Greater New York Area, and beyond.
1:22:09
We've been located in the North Brooklyn, area since 1992, and we currently employ, 7 employees.
1:22:16
I'm testifying today in support of increasing funding for the industrial business service providers, program citywide.
1:22:24
We want to be sure that the that our IBSP, Evergreen Exchange has the resources it needs to be able to assist small businesses so our community can thrive.
1:22:34
I have been a member of Evergreen since 2008.
1:22:38
I currently sit on the board.
1:22:40
I sit on the board since 2011 and, I, became board secretary in 2022.
1:22:47
My business has been involved with Evergreen, since 2006.
1:22:51
They helped us in many, many, many ways, especially in the advocacy, perspective.
1:22:58
We were involved in the Broadway Triangle.
1:23:03
I call it my crisis but, we came through it.
1:23:07
So they also helped us with guidance, education, and fund securement.
1:23:13
Evergreen was able to assist, our business, with much needed advocacy at that time.
1:23:20
My, Evergreen was also a central part of the business' existence development and growth.
1:23:25
Many more industrial businesses like ours need their help.
1:23:29
They face a plethora of challenges in New York City such as regulatory issues and navigation, human resource development and training, capital borrowing and securement, employee and transportation logistics, and many more.
1:23:43
They were able to help us and many more businesses address these and other challenges.
1:23:48
Organizations like Evergreen provide services and and impact well beyond the funding they receive, including in serving as a connector between industrial businesses and city agencies and policymakers.
1:23:59
Protecting and promoting our industrial service sector, industrial sector is crucial to the city's overall economic development.
1:24:06
The sector provides close to 500,000 jobs in New York City, making up nearly 15% of city workforce and cont contributes 1,700,000,000 tax revenues.
1:24:17
The manufacturing industrial sector is not only a strong component of our economy but a reliable source of jobs for many of our New York fellow New Yorkers.
1:24:26
Without the support of our organizations like Evergreen, it would be much more difficult for businesses like mine to operate in New York City and supply high quality, high paying, working class jobs for our neighbors.
1:24:39
Thank you, for your time, consideration holding this panel.
1:24:43
I urge this committee and the council to help ensure IBSPs have the funding and support they need to continue their work.
1:24:49
Thank you again.
1:24:50
Thank you for your time.
