Fulfills Commitment Made by Governor Hochul in 2024 State of the State Address

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the opening of the new Small Business Environmental Support Office (SBESO), designed to help small businesses understand and comply with federal and state environmental regulations involving air, water, solid and hazardous waste, petroleum and chemical bulk storage, and other important environmental standards. This initiative was first advanced by Governor Kathy Hochul in her 2024 State of the State address. The new office will provide direct one-on-one guidance to small businesses across the state related to environmental regulations, balancing the States sustainability goals alongside New York's economic development goals.  

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Small businesses are not just the backbone of our economy, they also are a partner in helping New York achieve our environmental goals. ESD’s new Small Business Environmental Support Office will be a resource for small businesses as they navigate an evolving environmental landscape. Small businesses in New York State now have a trusted advisor in understanding and complying with federal and state environmental rules.” 

While environmental regulations are in place to ensure a clean and safe environment for all, regulations can also prove challenging for small business owners to interpret. The new SBESO expands the support and advice offered to small businesses, free and confidentially, regarding how to navigate regulations, avoid noncompliance, and remedy violations.

The SBESO offers the following types of assistance to any New York state business with 100 or fewer employees: 

• COMPLIANCE  – help with identifying which state and federal regulations apply to a particular business and providing assistance in drafting compliance plans. 
• MEDIATION  – assistance with resolving complaints and disputes. 
• OUTREACH – informing small businesses of new or changing regulations, compliance deadlines, and current issues that may impact business operations. 
• BUSINESS SUPPORT – coordination with organizations representing business sectors, and engagement with regulatory agencies to provide feedback from the small business community.
• SUSTAINABILITY – providing resources to move small businesses beyond compliance through energy efficiency, resource conservation, pollution prevention, and sustainability. 

The Small Business Environmental Support Office can be reached by calling (877) 247-2329 or emailing [email protected]. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov/SBESO. 

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

Contact:
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313