Assemblymember William Scarborough was recently appointed chair of the Assembly Committee on Small Business when the Assembly announced its leadership and committee assignments for the 2011 legislative session.
Scarborough previously chaired the Committee on Children and Families.
The committee is involved in a wide range of issues affecting small businesses, such as economic development programs, regulatory issues, and small business funding issues, M/WBE participation in state projects and a host of other business–related concerns. The committee interacts with the state Department of Economic Development (DED) the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), the Job Development Authority (JDA) and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) as well as other agencies.
“I am excited about this new assignment, although I enjoyed serving as chair of Children and Families” said Scarborough. “Over 90 percent of the businesses in New York are small businesses, and after the recession jobs, businesses and economic development are critical issues.”
Scarborough indicated that the first hearing that he will participate in as chair of the committee is a previously scheduled hearing to review the states implementation of M/WBE programs under the executive order signed by former Governor Paterson. That hearing is scheduled for March 9 in Albany.
