Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - In a kickoff to National Small Business Week in the City of Buffalo, Mayor Chris Scanlon announced on Monday the launch of the first-ever Small Business Advisory Cabinet at City Hall.
This new initiative is aimed at strengthening the connection between leaders in Buffalo and the city's small business community.
"It's important that we get out and we celebrate small businesses, in particular the entrepreneurs behind them. These aren't people who are just opening businesses for their benefit. These are places that provide jobs, goods, services to the residents of the City of Buffalo," said Mayor Scanlon during Monday's press conference. "One thing I want to do is remind people this week to spend your money locally. But not just this week. It's important that we do it on a year-round basis. Every dollar that we spend in the city is multiplied several times over, as it circulates through the local economy, which provides additional jobs, more economic wealth and economic vitality through the City of Buffalo."
The Small Business Advisory Cabinet will serve as a forum for business owners and associations to share their perspectives and collaborate with the city and the Scanlon administration on solutions to key challenges. The Cabinet will consist of up to 15 representatives from a diverse range of businesses and business associations across Buffalo, and will meet quarterly to provide input on policies, programs and strategies.
This initiative is part of Mayor Scanlon's broader efforts to elevate small business voices, and support Buffalo economic future from the ground up.
"Whether that's restaurants, retail, service providers, whatever it might be. It's a partnership between my administration and our small business community, which will develop solutions to challenges businesses face, find ways the city government can support our small businesses, and a way for us to work together to build and strengthen conditions for our small business community," Mayor Scanlon said.
Buffalo-based businesses and associations interested in applying are encouraged to visit www.buffalony.gov/smallbusinesscabinet and share one goal they hope to achieve as a member. The application period will remain open for 10 days.
Mayor Scanlon adds he will be visiting with dozens of small businesses throughout the community this week to let them know about this opportunity, but also to demonstrate the diversity of the local economy and listen to concerns that exist.
"We've got to know what's going on with them. We've got to know how we can help them. If there's programs we have to put together at the city, if there's programs we could partner up with our different levels of government, that's what it's about. Talking to our partners in the small business community so we can use the information that they deal with on a daily basis to inform the decisions that we're going to make and the benchmarks we want to set," he said. "That input from them is what's going to drive this whole thing."
City officials are also encouraging local chambers and business associations to spread the work to their networks.