13 January 2015 - Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer and Deputy Commissioner Gregg Bishop of New York City Small Businesses Services (SBS) welcomed Philippine Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr., Consul Felipe Carino III, and Mr. Michael Nierva and Ms. Ledy Almadin of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce (PACC) of New York on 08 December 2014 at the SBS office in downtown New York.  The SBS is an attached agency of the New York City government formed to provide direct assistance to local business owners who are opening, expanding or operating a business in the five boroughs of New York City.

Consul General De Leon said that the Consulate General welcomed the opportunity to meet SBS to discuss partnerships and initiatives involving the Filipino business community.  He invited SBS to participate in the Consulate General’s and Chamber’s activities and cited the robust and active partnership between the Consulate General and the Phil-Am Chamber of Commerce in promoting trade and entrepreneurship among community members. 

Commissioner Torres-Springer, who is a Filipino-American, explained that SBS programs help secure opportunities, employ language services, and address issues relating to government transactions for immigrant entrepreneurs.  For start-ups, the SBS program addresses familiarity with government procedures and business set-up, including capital-raising networking.

Mr. Nierva said that Chamber members and Filipino business owners can benefit from programs by SBS that will help them identify opportunities, compete for government contracts, assist in growth-stage of a company for export purposes and develop a culture of entrepreneurship among Filipinos in general.                    

Deputy Commissioner Bishop said that SBS can help brick-and-mortar conceptual businesses access financing options, recruit personnel, navigate government bureaucracy, secure workshops, provide relevant business information and start partnerships in New York City.

Commissioner Springer added that SBS can help Filipino entrepreneurs reduce the cost of doing business to help Filipino businesses expand and succeed in New York. 

The Consulate General, in cooperation with the Phil-Am Chamber of Commerce in NY, is engaging the New York City government and agencies such as SBS to secure partnerships that will assist Filipino American entrepreneurs and encourage entrepreneurial spirit among younger generation Filipino-Americans.  END