Empowering New York’s Asian American Community Since 1989

NYC’S Economic Engine: Contributions & Challenges of Asian Small Businesses (2016)

Asian-owned small businesses are an important source of jobs for new immigrants and provide an opportunity to learn skills specific to the American workplace. While this important economic engine is celebrated by leaders and policy makers, there is a seeming lack of support and resources for them to open, sustain, and thrive. This report seeks to quantify the contributions and challenges that Asian owners face in establishing and growing their businesses. Our motivation for this report is threefold: 1) to highlight the economic contributions that these Asian owners make to our economy; 2) to dispel some of the misconceptions about small businesses and their operations; and 3) to outline policy changes that can support these businesses to ensure that they continue to grow and thrive.

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