Strengthening New York City Government’s Ties with Immigrant Small Business Owners

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) is a city agency that promotes the well-being of immigrant communities. It aims to ensure that immigrant small business owners are aware of the city services available to them and that these services adequately address their needs. MOIA engaged a Capstone team to find ways to effectively reach this population. The team delivered a research paper on New York City immigrant-owned small businesses, focusing on the landscape and key players, contributions of immigrant-owned businesses, their interaction with various city entities, their needs and challenges, and how comparable cities serve this population. The team interviewed small business advocates and leaders to learn more about the successes and challenges of immigrant small business communities and what methods work best to engage owners and meet their needs. The final report identified specific strategies that MOIA can undertake to better engage and serve this constituency.