Ken Iwama, Vice President for Economic Development, Continuing Studies, and Government Relations at The City University of New York, College of Staten Island, was appointed to serve on the Advisory Board of the New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) in February.
The NYSBDC Advisory Board is a collective of leaders in the industrial, government, and educational sectors who provide their unique perspectives on the issues facing small business owners across the state. State Director Brian Goldstein commented, “We are very pleased that Ken Iwama has joined the Advisory Board as he is a staunch advocate of our mission as the premiere business assistance organization in New York State. Additionally, The City University of New York is a valuable and longstanding partner of the NYSBDC, and through this continued collaboration Ken will provide needed representation and input on behalf of all of New York City.”
Amid the pandemic, the NYSBDC has taken a place at the front and center of the COVID-19 economic recovery. The organization has been leading Webinars across the state to help guide small businesses through these tough times. Additionally, Nora Santiago from the Division’s Office of Sustainable Community Planning developed a COVID-19 resource dashboard that provides critical data for New York City and Staten Island, including the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
The dashboard utilized the Environmental Systems Research Institute’s ArcGIS, the world’s leading mapping and location analytics platform, to visually display the virus’s impact over time. Data is extracted daily from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and they provide additional pertinent data as it becomes available. Since its release, the dashboard has been incorporated on the response Website of the national higher education organization, CUMU, and has even been shared by the Governor’s office.
The NYSBDC provides expert management and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses across the state. It is administered by The State University of New York and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses. Through 22 campus-based regional centers, and dozens of outreach offices, the NYSBDC applies the resources of university, private sector, and government to solve business problems and foster entrepreneurship, and emphasizes counseling and training services to women, veterans, people with special needs, and minority clients. The NYSBDC also focuses on projects that advance the job development, investment, and economic growth priorities of New York State, with an emphasis on manufacturers, exporters, and technology-oriented firms.
By Jasmine Cardona
