STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) gathered at the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com’s Bloomfield headquarters Wednesday, March 27 to discuss procurement opportunities for women and minority-owned business enterprises (W/MBE) on Staten Island.
Kim Avilez, President of the NYC Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and newly appointed SIEDC Board Member; Tenisha Dyer, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Economic and Financial Opportunity for the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS); and Deana Jean, Founder of the Success Tribe Network were among the speakers and led the roundtable discussion.
“Providing opportunities for the minority and women-owned business community is a key step toward creating a more inclusive local economy for firms of all types to learn and grow,” said Mike Cusick, SIEDC President & CEO.
The roundtable discussion was led by Kim Avilez, President of the NYC Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Tenisha Dyer, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Economic and Financial Opportunity for the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and Deana Jean, Founder of the Success Tribe Network.Courtesy of the SIEDC
M/WBEs accounted for only 2% of all new city contracts and purchase orders registered in 2022, according to the Office of the NYC Comptroller.
The SIEDC roundtable discussion helped to bring light issues regarding W/MBEs including discrepancies in city and state certifications, issues completing paperwork and greater transparency with contracting requirements.
Business owners were given the opportunity to give feedback for these processes to better the opportunity to any future W/MBE looking to begin establishing their business.
The SIEDC will be hosting future roundtable sessions for further discussion on better ways to serve the economic growth on Staten Island.
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