A new report from the New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli highlights something that many of us in Sullivan County already know: small business is the backbone of New York’s economy. 

Recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate there were 422,137 small businesses (with fewer than 500 employees) operating across New York in 2023, comprising 98.9 percent of all businesses in the state. About 80.8 percent of all New York businesses employed less than 10 workers.

Despite the state’s strong showing, the Comptroller’s report explains that small businesses are facing more challenges than ever, including rising health insurance and energy costs, high state taxes on business income, costly supplies and “unreasonable government regulations.” 

The report outlines several programs intended to offer financial support to small businesses, including a grant program to improve capital accessibility for entrepreneurs and the launch of EXPRESS NY (Expediting Processes and Regulations to Enable Streamlined Services) that would identify unnecessary, outdated or burdensome regulations.

“Small businesses are the foundation of New York’s economy, stimulating economic activity in our cities and towns, spurring innovation across industries, providing a variety of employment opportunities, and enriching our communities,” DiNapoli said. “However, growth in small business jobs and new startups lags the rest of the nation. New challenges, like tariffs, have forced owners to make sacrifices and difficult choices. The state and local governments should continue to look for ways to support small businesses by easing their entry into markets and helping them thrive in New York.”

You can read more about the businesses that make up our Sullivan County communities in the newest edition of “Business Edge”, which is inserted in today’s paper. You’ll hear from the President of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development, Marc Baez (who is also mentioned in today’s front-page story about a new workforce housing development coming to Liberty). 

More stories include roundups from Rock Hill and Wurtsboro—two towns with a thriving business district—with insight from each town supervisor.

We might not have mega corporations or even that many chain stores here, but it’s comforting to know that from main street to main street, we are in good company.