TODAY, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Kenny Minaya as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS).
"From the bodega on your corner to the laundromat that's anchored your block for decades, small businesses are the lifeblood of New York City. They're where working people build dreams - and for too long, City Hall has made that harder than it needs to be, burying storefronts in red tape while corporate chains get the fast lane. That ends now," said Mayor Mamdani. "With Kenny Minaya as Commissioner of Small Business Services, we'll cut the bureaucracy and make it easier to start and run a small business - because when our neighborhood businesses thrive, New York thrives."
Minaya has served as the First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) since 2022, after joining the agency in 2016 as Deputy Chief of Staff. As First Deputy Commissioner, he oversaw agency operations and finances.
Before joining City government, Minaya worked at Catholic Migration Services and Make the Road New York, where he represented immigrant tenants in Brooklyn and Queens fighting to keep their homes affordable in the face of predatory landlords.
"Under Mayor Mamdani, we are ushering in a new era for small businesses in our city. I am deeply thankful for the Mayor's trust and confidence and am proud to take on this responsibility," said Kenny Minaya, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. "As the son of immigrant small business owners, I know firsthand the challenges that our entrepreneurs face. I am excited to partner with the dedicated public servants at SBS - whose work every day supports businesses in every neighborhood - and to bring both my experience in City government and my lived experience to this role as we work side-by-side with small business owners in all five boroughs."
"Small businesses are where New Yorkers take risks, create jobs and build generational opportunity," said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. "Commissioner Minaya will lead SBS with a clear mandate: make it simpler to open, operate and grow a small business - and ensure every neighborhood entrepreneur has a fair shot at success."
"The NYC BID Association welcomes the appointment of Kenny Minaya as the next Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. SBS is a critical agency that provides support to our small businesses and is the advocacy agency for the city's 78 Business Improvement Districts. Commissioner Minaya has a strong background in city government and a personal connection to small businesses, which are the backbone of our city's economy," said Jeffrey LeFrancois and Erin Piscopink, Co-Chairs of the NYC BID Association. "We're eager to work with Commissioner Minaya, SBS, and City Hall to further the partnership with the City's BIDs that play an integral role in delivering supplemental city services and support to small businesses and commercial corridors throughout the five boroughs."
"Kenny Minaya has long been a champion for working class New Yorkers, including those who dream to build their own small businesses," said Arlenis Morel, co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York. "Kenny has worked tirelessly to harness the economic potential of regular people so that they may contribute to our City. He will be a visionary commissioner for the Department of Small Business Services, bringing a unique combination of skills, experience in City government and strong connections to the communities that make up our vibrant City."
"On behalf of the Yemeni American Merchants Association, we extend our sincere congratulations to Kenny Minaya on his appointment as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services," said Youssef Mubarez, YAMA Action President. "His experience, integrity and dedication to public service make him exceptionally well suited for this important role. The Yemeni American business community greatly values the strong and productive relationship we have built with SBS. We are excited to continue our close collaboration under Commissioner Minaya's leadership and are confident he is the right choice to build on the progress that has been made and further strengthen opportunities for Yemeni small business owners across the five boroughs. We look forward to working together to ensure that immigrant-owned and community-based businesses have the resources and support they need to grow and thrive."
"Congratulations to Commissioner Kenny Minaya on his appointment to the Department of Small Business Services," said Sandra Jaquez, President of the NYS Latino Restaurant Association. "Having grown up visiting his family's bakery, I know that he and his family understand the dedication and hard work small business ownership demands. I look forward to working with Commissioner Minaya to support small businesses-many of which are still struggling-and to advance policies that help small businesses across New York City grow and thrive."
"On behalf of the National Supermarket Association, we congratulate Kenny Minaya on his appointment as Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services," said Anthony Pena, President, National Supermarket Association. "Commissioner Minaya knows firsthand that independent supermarkets and small businesses are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods-creating jobs, supporting families, and serving communities every day. We look forward to working with his office to advance policies that empower local entrepreneurs, expand fair opportunities, and help small businesses thrive across our city. When small businesses succeed, our communities succeed."
"As someone who had the honor and pleasure to work closely with Commissioner Minaya, I congratulate him on his appointment to New York City's Department of Small Business Services," said Lorelei Salas, former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Supervision Director, and former Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner. "Commissioner Minaya has shown deep commitment to public service excellence in his various roles within the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Our small businesses will have no better advocate, with a deep personal connection to what they go through, to represent their interests, navigate city services and regulations, and explore ways to help them thrive and compete with the largest corporations."
"Small businesses are the cornerstone of New York City's communities and local economy, and as a City government we need to do our utmost to ensure that they have the support they need to succeed," said DCWP Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. "In the short time that I have come to know and work closely with Commissioner Minaya, it has become abundantly clear that he is a leader with a deep commitment to making government work efficiently and effectively for New Yorkers. As Commissioner of Small Business Services, Kenny Minaya will be a passionate advocate for our small businesses, with a deep understanding on both a professional and personal level of the challenges they overcome every day."
Mayor Mamdani has made support for small businesses central to his agenda to tackle New York City's affordability crisis. Shortly after taking office, he signed Executive Order 11 , directing City agencies to create a comprehensive inventory of fees and civil penalties imposed on small businesses and to identify ways to reduce and streamline them. Small businesses must navigate a complex web of more than 6,000 regulations and rules, driving up costs for businesses and customers alike. The executive order directs the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice and seven agencies to review existing fines and fees and advance reforms in the months ahead.
The Department of Small Business Services helps businesses start, operate and grow by connecting them with resources, training and technical assistance, while also supporting workforce development and commercial corridor revitalization across the five boroughs.
About Commissioner Kenny Minaya
Minaya was born and raised in New York City. For 42 years, his parents - immigrants from the Dominican Republic - have owned and operated a small bakery in Inwood. He attended New York City public schools, earned a Bachelor of Arts from the City College of New York and a Juris Doctor from the CUNY School of Law. He lives in the Bronx with his wife. They are expecting their first child.
