File #: Int 1473-2025    Version: * Name: Establishing a youth entrepreneurship and business development program.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Small Business
On agenda: 11/12/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a youth entrepreneurship and business development program
Sponsors: Kevin C. Riley, Farah N. Louis
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to establish a youth entrepreneurship and business development program for individuals between the ages of 18 and 30. The program would provide participants with entrepreneurship training and work experience that prepares them to compete for city contracts, as well as comprehensive business fundamentals education. SBS would be required to conduct targeted outreach in communities experiencing barriers to entrepreneurship and economic opportunity, including communities identified in the city's M/WBE disparity studies as underrepresented in city contracting.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1473, 2. Int. No. 1473, 3. Memorandum in Support, 4. November 12, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1473

 

By Council Members Riley and Louis

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a youth entrepreneurship and business development program

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 10 of title 22 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 22-1009 to read as follows:

§ 22-1009 Youth entrepreneurship and business development program.

a. Program establishment. The department of small business services shall establish a youth entrepreneurship and business development program to provide training and work experience to individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who: (i) are enrolled in or have graduated within the past three years from a technical school, community college, or workforce development program within the city; or (ii) are residents of the city and demonstrate interest in entrepreneurship or self-employment. The department may coordinate with the department of youth and community development, administration for children's services, department of education, and the city university of New York, and may establish partnerships with educational institutions and workforce development organizations to recruit participants and facilitate program activities.

b. Program components. Such program shall provide participants with entrepreneurship training and work experience that prepares participants to compete for city contracts in various municipal service sectors, including but not limited to digital services, environmental technology, facility maintenance, and renewable energy systems. Such program shall also include comprehensive business fundamentals education covering business planning, financial management, marketing and government contracting, including information related to minority-and women-owned business enterprise certification.

c. Targeted outreach. The department shall conduct targeted outreach and recruitment in communities experiencing barriers to entrepreneurship, including communities identified in the citywide disparity studies as underrepresented in city contracting.

d. Participant compensation and support. Program participants shall be compensated at no less than the applicable minimum wage for work performed and shall receive assistance transitioning to entrepreneurship, including information about business development, financing opportunities, and minority-and women-owned business enterprise certification.

e. Graduate support services. Upon completion of the program, the department shall provide ongoing support to program graduates for no more than two years, provided that such support shall be restricted to activities directly related to city procurement and shall not extend to general business operations unrelated to municipal contracting, and be limited to graduates who have established businesses that are certified under the city's minority- and women-owned business enterprise program and are actively pursuing or performing municipal contracts with the city. Such support shall include:

i. Assistance with city procurement processes and bid preparation;

ii. Networking opportunities with city agency procurement officers and established contractors;

iii. Technical assistance with business development and contract performance;

iv. Connection to relevant contracting opportunities through a graduate business registry; and

v. Mentorship programs pairing graduates with experienced contractors.

f. Integration with M/WBE program. The program established pursuant to this section shall be administered in furtherance of the goals of the city's minority- and women-owned business enterprise program pursuant to section 6-129, including addressing documented disparities in city contracting as identified in the city's disparity studies. Eligibility, certification processes, and support services under this section shall align with the requirements of such program.

g. Annual reporting. No later than January 31 of each year, the department shall submit to the mayor and the council a report on program activities, participant outcomes, graduate business success rates, and recommendations for improvement.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

Session 13

ARP

LS #19829

10/30/25