Business task force recommends creating new incubators
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Gov. David A. Paterson last week received the final report from his 60-member Small Business Task Force, chaired by Bill Grinker, former president of Seedco Financial, a national community development financial institution.
Some of its recommendations could benefit Long Island.
One recommendation was to create seven to 10 new business incubators in the state. There are currently four on Long Island. Steve Cohen, the Empire State Development Corp.'s deputy commissioner for small business, said the Island may get another incubator.
"I would say that's likely, given the [technological] makeup of Long Island," Cohen said. Paterson is to consider the recommendations and may include them for funding in his next State of the State address.
Paterson describes the state's financial condition in ominous tones. But, Cohen said, "We weren't proposing anything that was out of the question. I think many of the recommendations can go forward with minimal funding requirements."
