On Long Island, a new survey on the region’s minority business community

A new survey aims to better understand current challenges faced by minority-owned businesses on Long Island.

The “Long Island Minority Small Business Survey” is an effort of the Long Island Association (LIA), Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC), Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC), and Long Island University’s Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis.

This survey builds on a joint initiative that was already established between the LIA, LIAACC, and LIHCC to support inclusive regional economic growth through a Long Island Community Foundation (LICF) grant to the LIA Foundation earlier this year.

The LIA Foundation recently issued a new mission statement, set of goals, and webpage as the separate 501c(3) aims to continue seeking opportunities that support the well-being of all Long Island communities.

The Hornstein Center is conducting the survey on a pro-bono basis and the results will be compared to national small business trends. The institution is represented on the LIA board by Kimberly Cline, Long Island University president.  The survey is accepting responses until Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. (The English version is available here, live survey link and PDF document, and the Spanish version here  live survey link and PDF document )

The survey will “provide critical information on how economic pressures are currently impacting businesses and will inform the advocacy and programs administered by the LIA, LIAACC, and LIHCC. Thank you to the Hornstein Center for administering the survey and analyzing the data, and for LICF for their continuing support of this important work,” Matt Cohen, LIA president and CEO, said in a statement.

“We believe that the voice of Long Island Hispanic small businesses is essential in shaping a recovery strategy post-pandemic,” Luis Vazquez, president of the LIHCC and LIA board member, said in a statement. “Each survey response is a vital piece of understanding the unique challenges this community faces and the support they require. Their insights will drive initiatives and empower us to foster and environment where Hispanic small businesses can thrive again.”

“This data will help our organizations better understand challenges minority small businesses are experiencing right now, so we can assess how we can design our programs to meet their specific needs and ensure their success in our communities,” Phil Andrews, president of the LIAACC, said in a statement.

“The Steven S. Hornstein Center for Polling, Policy, and Analysis at Long Island University is proud to provide custom polling and research to support this important project to help Long Island’s economic growth and prosperity reach its full potential, ” Andy Person, chief of Strategy and Advancement at Long Island University, said in a statement.

“Long Island’s economic vitality is significantly hindered by racial wealth gaps. We know that small businesses are the cornerstone of healthy, thriving, equitable neighborhoods,” Sol Marie Alfonso-Jones, program director at the LICF, said in a statement.

“And we know that minority-owned businesses could help close the racial wealth gap by offering business owners income, independence, and economic mobility,” Alfonso-Jones said. “We appreciate our partnership with the Long Island Association and the African American and Hispanic Chambers and applaud the release of this survey which will ensure interventions and resources are informed by and targeting the unique needs of entrepreneurs of color.”