Last week, USBLN was proud to join a roundtable discussion with the New York City Comptroller, Scott M. Stringer.

The roundtable discussion was focused on ways the City can expand resources to Emerging Business Enterprises (businesses that are owned or operated by individuals who have been socially or economically disadvantaged). The Comptroller is interested in starting a conversation on how the City can work closer with and recognize disability-owned businesses (DOBEs), service-disabled veteran businesses (SDV-DOBEs), as well as LGBTBEs, certified by our allies at the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

Several USBLN certified DOBEs and SDV-DOBEs as part of USBLN’s Disability Supplier Diversity Program were at the event and spoke about the importance of creating economic opportunities for people with disabilities and how doing business with the City would help to grow their businesses. In attendance were USBLN certified businesses: CityMouse, Precision Group LLC, Our Ability, R.Baker & Son, and Base One Technologies.

The Comptroller was eager to hear about the challenges that DOBEs, SDV-DOBEs, and LGBTBEs face when doing business with the City and how his office can work to lessen those challenges. He is also interested in seeing how the City can recognize the USBLN and NGLCC certifications, to allow all our certified businesses to have greater opportunity and access to contracts with the City.

This was the first in a series of conversations that will occur in order to expand recognition of our certifications. We look forward to working with New York City and other states and municipalities to create more economic opportunities for business owners with disabilities.