Yonkers Small Businesses Benefit from HUD Community Needs Assessment

HUD's Community Needs Assessment process seeks to support locally-driven goals by aligning federal programs and investments, and to improve coordination with partners across all levels of government. The impact of this approach is on full display in Yonkers, NY. HUD staff worked over several months to bring together stakeholders to identify resources and challenges, and to collaboratively define problems and propose solutions. The process identified several community priorities that could benefit from additional intergovernmental coordination and technical assistance, including storm water management and small business development.

HUD Regional Administrator Holly Leicht delivers remarks at a press conference announcing the signing of a Strategic Alliance Memorandum to help small business development in Yonkers, NY

In December, HUD convened a "Storm water Summit" in Yonkers, bringing together leading experts from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, academics, and local planners to explore strategies for addressing longstanding storm water runoff problems. Recommendations arising from the summit are already being incorporated into local planning efforts, and a partnership with the Center for the Urban River at Sarah Lawrence College has the potential to provide visibility and sustainability to storm water solutions as the community moves forward. To learn more about the summit and see the resources identified, click here.

The CNA also identified small business development as a major opportunity for Yonkers' vibrant small business owners and residents. HUD used the CNA results to approach the Small Business Administration (SBA) about expanding their activities in Yonkers, and on July 29 the SBA signed the first Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with a municipality in the State of New York, a development that will provide training and services to hundreds of small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the City. The SAM was announced at a press conference with Mayor Mike Spano, HUD Regional Administrator Holly Leicht, and SBA Regional Administrator Kellie Ledet. The partnership with also provide additional training and opportunities for Section 3 Businesses, those owned or staffed primarily by low-income residents which have a preference for HUD-funded contracts. To learn more about HUD's Section 3 program, visit hud.gov/section3.

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, SBA Regional Administrator Kellie Ledet, SBA New York Director Beth Goldberg, HUD Regional Administrator Holly Leicht, and other local and federal officials pose with the signed Strategic Alliance Memorandum

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