PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Norine Medas, Founder and Executive Director of Canarsie Merchants Association
2:31:00
ยท
3 min
Norine Medas, representing the Canarsie Merchants Association, testified in support of Intro 1082, which proposes a review of initial fees and costs for starting a business in New York City. She emphasized the challenges faced by businesses starting during COVID and the need for early intervention and support for new business owners.
- The Canarsie Merchants Association supports local merchants, entrepreneurs, and the community, formed through pandemic partnerships.
- Medas highlighted that initial business startup costs can be around $10,000, making it a significant investment for new owners.
- She mentioned that Canarsie has 326 small businesses and is projected to generate about $2.6 billion by 2027, emphasizing the importance of supporting these businesses.
Norine Medas
2:31:00
Good afternoon, councilor chair.
2:31:04
My name is Marie Madas.
2:31:13
Council chair.
2:31:15
My name is Noreen Madas.
UNKNOWN
2:31:16
I'm the founder and the
Norine Medas
2:31:16
Council chair.
2:31:16
My name is Noreen Madas, the founder and the executive director of the Kenosse Merchants Association.
2:31:24
I am here to share comments directed towards, the proposed bill 1082 proposed by my council member.
2:31:35
The Canossie Merchants Association is commerce plus community.
2:31:41
We're on a mission to continue to support the local merchants as well as entrepreneurs and the community.
2:31:50
We were formed through the pandemic, out of pandemic, partnerships.
2:31:56
And as a result, we continue to, provide services to the, not only to the merchants, as well as the community.
2:32:07
The Canossie Merchants Association's advocacy continues with identifying services to assist local business owners, MWBEs, with the opportunity to start as well as to maintain a business in Canarsie, Brooklyn as and beyond.
2:32:24
As we've discussed here, businesses, starting during COVID have been met with so many different challenges.
2:32:33
Business start up costs can just initially start with about $10,000.
2:32:38
That's a huge investment that businesses are owning are are investing in getting their business started.
2:32:46
So a review of the initial fees and cost to start a business in New York City is, needed at this time, and I certainly agree with the last person that spoke, and it's something I've been thinking about for a while.
2:33:00
If we were able to reach business owners, prior to even starting or even as they're beginning to start, that will certainly make a dish a, difference.
2:33:11
Our initial funding is really coming through the generosity of council member Nossis.
2:33:18
Thank you.
2:33:20
Which has allowed us with, partners as Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to as, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce small business grant, SBS grants that have allowed us to do this work.
2:33:32
Partners like Volt's, have allowed us, to be able to reach these small businesses.
2:33:40
In terms of outreach, in Canarsie, we have 326, small businesses.
2:33:47
We also, projected, by 2027 to generate about 2, $600,000,000.
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That's in, a CDA report that was done through funding through SBS.
2:33:59
So we have serious work that needs to be done.
2:34:02
What we're really looking for is to be able, to, with additional funding, to be able to reach.
2:34:11
We've been having monthly meetings for the past 4 years.
2:34:15
We've been having, networking events, bringing, entrepreneurs and business owners, from Canossie and beyond.
2:34:22
So I wanna thank you just for the opportunity to allow, the Canossie Merchants Association just to be able to sit, to hear, to understand, and to learn.
Oswald Feliz
2:34:33
Thank you.
2:34:34
Thank you for all the work you do over there in the Kenossey.
Norine Medas
2:34:36
Thank you.