On March 18, small business owners and business allies from across New York traveled to Albany to advocate their positions on a wide range of issues including high taxes, the cost of health care, credit card swipe fees, the UI trust fund crisis, and other measures that impact the state’s business climate and affordability.

State Director Ashley Ranslow kicked off the event, exhorting NFIB member activists to call on lawmakers to give serious consideration to Main Street issues as they work through this year’s budget and the remainder of the legislative session.

The event was hosted NFIB on behalf of our 11,000 members throughout the Empire State and the small business community at large. Nearly 60 Small Business Day participants gathered in Empire State Plaza to hear from business leaders and policy experts and discuss the key Main Street policy challenges and latest NFIB research.

The event program concluded with small business owners meeting with lawmakers in their Capitol offices by region to advocate NFIB’s legislative priorities and share their experiences running a business in New York.

“Small Business Day recognizes the importance of small business owners to our state, and it also serves as a critical reminder to lawmakers that small businesses’ challenges can be made worse by legislative action and inaction,” said State Director Ashley Ranslow. “From crushing UI taxes to outrageous frequency of pay lawsuits, our agenda is essential to the sustainability of New York’s small business owners and Main Street jobs. Small business is the backbone of New York’s economy, Main Streets, and job creation, and we are very proud of the work our members did today to advocate and tell their stories. We are grateful to the Senators, Assembly Members, and staff who met with our activists today.”