Legislator and staff describe SBA visit to Cuba, praise local "economic gardening" and small-business resilience

Legislator Healy and county economic development staff told the committee on May 21 about a May 20 site visit in the Village and Town of Cuba with the Small Business Administration's Western New York office that highlighted local entrepreneurs and an "economic gardening" approach to small-business support.

Healy said all three legislators from District 2 and local partners toured five businesses and met with owners, the Cuba Chamber of Commerce and SBA representatives. "We were invited small business administration of Western New York...to join in the recognition of both the village and the town of Cuba and what they call economic gardening," Healy said. He described the meetings as an opportunity to listen to owners explain how they started, their struggles and why they chose Cuba.

Ashley Smith, director of economic development, said the SBA was impressed with the community response and the number of local business nominations in the SBA's regional awards process. "In that 14 county region, Allegany County received the most nominations of any of those counties," Smith said. Smith and Healy said the recognition was intended to celebrate local entrepreneurship and to spotlight community-based business support.

Committee members praised the outreach and noted the visit included walking tours and photo opportunities at business storefronts. No committee action was taken; the remarks were delivered during the meeting's "good of the order" reports.