ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a statewide initiative Thursday with a focus on local business certifications.
"Sail-Thru Summer" will be led by Empire State Development to increase Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) opportunities across the state. It will encourage business owners to complete their MWBE certification applications by partnering with local Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EACs) or Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).
The specialized centers provide free expert guidance throughout the application process, helping applicants navigate requirements efficiently and submit complete, accurate documentation for a potentially faster certification decision, according to the press release. The additional support with the certification process is available until August 30.
This program partnership hopes to speed up certifications, with some people potentially receiving decisions in as few as 90 days, compared to the average one to two years.
“This initiative marks a significant step forward in our commitment to foster a diverse and inclusive business environment in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “By streamlining the MWBE certification process, we're not just opening doors—we're actively empowering minority and women-owned businesses to play a larger role in our state's economic growth and success.”
During Small Business Month in May, the Governor announced that New York had not only met but exceeded its goal of reducing MWBE certification application response times to 90-120 days. Since August, Empire State Development also has successfully certified and re-certified over 2,530 businesses.
