Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The New York City Council Committee on Small Business, chaired by Councilmember Shanel Thomas-Henry, met on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM at 250 Broadway, 8th Floor, Hearing Room 3. The committee voted on two items sponsored by Councilmember Yusef Salaam: a proposed local law (Int. No. 799-A) to establish a support fund for small retail businesses affected by roadway construction, and a resolution (Res. No. 328) calling on the New York State Legislature and Governor to provide a tax credit for businesses negatively impacted by infrastructure construction. All seven members present voted unanimously in favor of both items.
Good morning, and welcome to New York City Council vote on small businesses. This time we're asking everyone to select all electronic devices. And at no point in time, anyone should upward your DS. Chair, you may begin. Good morning, everyone. I am Councilmember Chanel Thomas Henry, Chair of the Committee on Small Business. Thank you to my colleagues Maloney, Santos, Salam, Moreno on Zoom, and Brooks Powers for joining us here today. Today we are voting on proposed introduction 799A, sponsored by Councilmember Salam in relation to establishing a support fund for small retail businesses affected by roadway construction. And resolution 328, also sponsored by Councilmember Salam, calling on the New York State Legislature to pass and the governor to sign legislation providing a tax credit to businesses negatively affected by infrastructure construction. Roadway construction is a common site in New York City. It's often necessary and can ultimately lead to economic benefits. But construction can also disrupt a business by creating barriers to access. Construction that disrupts the flow of people, can keep customers away from a business and cause temporary economic destruction disruptions. Businesses navigate many significant costs to operate safely and legally in New York City. Many businesses struggled to survive the pandemic, and even more recently, many are recovering from tariffs that briefly and severely affected them. So any long-term city construction that could further complicate a business operation must be addressed. In New Jersey, when Route 80 was under construction to address a sinkhole, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority launched a grant program to support small local businesses and nonprofits impacted by the partial and full closure of the highway. Proposed introduction 799A would require the Department of Small Business Services to establish a program of grants to business improvement districts and community-based organizations to help support small businesses affected by city construction projects. To qualify, the bid or CBO would be required to demonstrate that the businesses within their purview fall within a qualifying construction project area, which is defined as two blocks from a qualifying construction project. Bids or CBOs would then be required to consult the Department of Transportation's website to show that a construction project is authorized by a permit issued by DOT for at least 90 days. New York City has a record 183,000. That's 183,000 small businesses in operation. And many of them depend on foot traffic and visibility. Research for the Minnesota Department of Transportation found that independent non-chain businesses are the most likely to be hurt by construction and changing traffic patterns. Each qualifying project can receive one grant of up to 100,000 to help nearby businesses throughout marketing, wayfinding, fighting, and other services. Second, it establishes a reimbursement program so that small businesses near the construction can be reimbursed for eligible costs for up to $10,000 per business. Guarantees report to SP grantees, rather, support report to SBS and SPS audits the spending and program runs, and this program runs for three years. But 799A covers city projects, and the city cannot do this alone. During the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway in the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce reported that almost half of the businesses between 68th Street and 95th Street had moved or closed within five years because of declining revenue. That is a state, that's that is state work through the MTA and the state needs to step up to Resolution 328 calls on the state legislature and the governor to provide a tax credit for businesses affected by infrastructure construction. I want to thank my chief of staff, Wilma Brown and Legislative Director Mufazo Hussein for their tireless efforts from the beginning stages of both these items. I also want to thank the committee staff, Tyler Isaiah Walls and Rebecca Borrilla for their work on this legislation as well as SBS and my co-sponsors. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on both. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. I now call on the clerk to call the roll. Matthew Destafano, committee clerk, committee on small business, roll cohort vote on proposed intro 799A and resolution 328. Both items are coupled. Chair Thomas Henry. Brooks Powers. Permission to explain my vote. Permission granted. I