Assemblyman Joseph Angelino (R,C,I-Norwich) is urging for the adoption of the “Jump-Start New York” Initiative, a set of bills and policies aimed at helping the state recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic response. The state must act with urgency, as 28 percent of small businesses have not opened their doors this year.

“New York’s small businesses are in need of critical support and the Legislature must act swiftly in providing assistance and relief. Our attention to small businesses during our pandemic recovery will set the tone and set New York for a more prosperous return of our economy,” said Angelino. “I am proud to support the Jump-Start New York initiative and encourage my legislative colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join me.”

Even prior to the pandemic, New York’s economic health has been under continual pressure from oppressive taxes and overregulation. The state has been ranked by CNBC as having the eighth worst cost of doing business, the third highest cost of living and the second least friendly climate toward business. Overall, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) report that 22 percent of small business owners believe they will not be able to operate longer than seven to 12 months under the current economic conditions. Further still, the New York State Farm Bureau reports that 65 percent of farms have been negatively impacted during the pandemic.

Angelino knows the stakes and pressures are very high for small job creators, which is why New York must act now. Among its proposals, the Jump-Start New York Initiative would:

• Limit the governor’s expanded powers and increase local authority during future emergencies, in addition to re-empower the state Legislature with an emergency operations committee to provide oversight and after 45 days into a state of emergency, share equal decision-making power with the governor;
• Implement the NY Business Emergency Relief Act of 2021, creating a Restart NY Grant Relief Program to non-essential businesses who were impacted by the governor’s restrictions on the economy during the pandemic;
• Utilize Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) for disaster recovery purposes;
• Repurpose and leverage programs such as NY Works Economic Development Fund, REDCs, START-UP NY benefits and more to revive the economy after the pandemic;
• Implement 180-day regulatory amnesty period to allow businesses time to come into compliance without penalty and establish the Division of Regulatory Review and Economic Growth (DRREG);
• Increase access to high-speed internet in rural communities;
• Ease regulatory burdens and expenses faced by family farmers and agricultural businesses; and
• Expand the zero-percent interest rate to all Small Business Administration loans and partial loan forgiveness if employment levels are maintained similar to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

A copy of the Jump-Start New York Initiative may be downloaded here:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YHO-lcoOfWQbZ7-u3XNLByxk-auJ_9aV/view