The City of New York Is Eliminating Evergreen’s Funding–We Need Your Help Now
The City of New York is proposing to eliminate a funding source that Evergreen relies on to provide services to businesses like yours—and we need your help to protect it.
After 40 years of investing in services for industrial businesses, the NYC Department of Small Business Services is proposing to defund and dismantle the Industrial Business Service Provider (IBSP) program under the guise of an upgrade —the program that helps support Evergreen and the work we do to assist industrial businesses like yours. This funding accounts for about 20% of Evergreen’s annual budget. It is one of the key resources we rely on to provide the services many of you use every day—help navigating government agencies, accessing financing and incentive programs, resolving regulatory issues, finding industrial space, and connecting to opportunities. This is a crisis for our organization–without this funding, Evergreen’s ability to continue providing these services to industrial businesses will be significantly weakened.
The NYC Council Committee of Small Business held a hearing on Monday, March 23rd–Evergreen and a number of local businesses testified in support of restoring IBSP funding. Special thanks to our clients who took hours out of their busy schedules to testify, including Leerform, Allison Eden Studios, Guerra Paint, TwoSeven, Grand Street BID, Martin Greenfield Clothiers, and Shanghai MKS. To see Evergreen’s testimony, click here.
The hearing was a success, but we still need more help. The Mayor, the NYC Council, and the NYC Department of Small Business Services need to hear directly from you.
If Evergreen has helped your business—or if you believe programs like this should continue supporting small manufacturers and industrial companies—please consider taking one or more of the actions below:
1. Send a letter to the Mayor
Tell the Mayor why support programs for industrial businesses matter and how Evergreen has helped your business. Here is a draft letter you can use.
Additionally, you can send a message to the Mayor through this contact form. 500 character limit.
2. Send a message to NYC Department of Small Business Commissioner Minaya
You can paste the text from your letter to the Mayor into this contact form. 2000 character limit.
3. Send a letter or email to your City Council Member
Ask them to oppose eliminating the IBSP program and protect the organizations that support industrial businesses. Find your Councilmember and their email address here! Here is a draft letter you can use.
Sharing your experience as a business owner helps policymakers understand why these services matter. Communicating directly to the Administration and Council Members is one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard.
If you are able to send a letter, please also send Karen Nieves or me a copy (here at Evergreen) so we can share with our local electeds. If you need any help drafting a letter or finding your local Councilmember, email Karen at knieves@evergreenexchange.org.