Staten Island Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Regional Director Michael Anderson celebrated SBDC Day at the Capitol on March 25 by visiting with all six Staten Island local officials and their staff at the New York State Capitol in Albany.
“This was a great opportunity for me to connect with our various local politicians to remind them about the no-cost business assistance that the Staten Island SBDC provides to the local small business community. The Staten Island SBDC continues to strengthen our relationships with officials so that we can continue to provide comprehensive services to the entire borough,” said Anderson.
Anderson met with Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, Michael Reilly, and Sam Pirozzolo along with Brian Early (Legislative Director for State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton), John Turoski (Chief of Staff for State Senator Andrew Lanza), and Ata Baglam (Legislative Director for Assemblyman Charles Fall).
The Regional Director provided the reps with various SBDC informational materials along with statistics highlighting the Staten Island SBDC’s work in the respective rep’s district area and the Staten Island SBDC’s entire territory since the organization’s inception in 1993.
“It was certainly a hectic day, but it was definitely worth it. I was happy to connect with them about small businesses and remind them that the Staten Island SBDC is always available to assist any of their constituents,” said Anderson.
Regional Directors from other New York SBDCs – there are 20 in the state and seven in NYC – were also at the Capitol visiting with electeds. Also, New York SBDC State Director Sonya Smith shared firsthand perspectives on the state of small businesses across New York with State Senator April N.M. Baskin, Chair, Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, Chair, Assembly Committee on Small Business, and Assemblyman Al Stirpe, Chair, Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry.
The Staten Island SBDC, hosted at the College of Staten Island, offers no-cost market research, business start-up guidance, financial and accounting support, marketing assistance, government contracting support, and more. Since its inception in 1993, over 14,700 clients have been counseled by the Staten Island SBDC, which covers the entire 11th Congressional District in Staten Island and South Brooklyn. The staff takes a “feet on the street” approach by visiting clients and neighborhoods throughout the borough.
Each month, the Staten Island SBDC offers several webinars to educate businesses on various topics. Some upcoming webinars in 2026 include AI for small businesses, cybersecurity, business insurance, business plans, and business formation.
The Staten Island SBDC can be reached at 718-982-2560, emailing sbdc@csi.cuny.edu, or visiting www.sisbdc.org. The office is located at CSI in Building 3A, Room 105. Appointments are strongly encouraged.
Cover image (l-r); Michael Reilly, Michael Anderson, Sam Pirozzolo
– Story courtesy of SBDC
