New York’s state senators say they are committed to helping small businesses.

That was the message as several senators rose to speak in support of a resolution this week commemorating Small Business Month — though the message from the senators is that there is a long way to go for the state’s business climate to allow small businesses to thrive.

Studies back that up. Forbes’ 2023 small business rankings were released late in 2022. Those rankings analyzed 18 metrics across five categories to determine which states are the best and worst locations to start a business. New York ranked worst in the Forbes rankings due to its high cost of living, high unemployment rate and a 79% small business survival rate. Pennsylvania, comparatively, ranked fourth on the list of best states to start a small business despite being the most expensive state for cost of living. Forbes officials noted Pennsylvania has many resources available for small business owners to open their businesses, with total small business loan funding of $27.7 millioncoming in at twice the national average.

Sen. Leroy Comrie, D-Queens, talked about his disappointment with the state’s Minority and Women Business Enterprise program that often takes too long to certify businesses while expressing pride in the number of cultures represented by small businesses in his district.

“Small businesses are critical to our economy, to our community, and also, to our entrepreneurs,” Comrie said. “We have to continue to do everything that we can as a state Legislature, to create the policies to encourage us to be the small business capital of the country as opposed to the statistics now where every one of the last five states to have a positive small business environment. So I’m glad that Senator Ryan brought this resolution today, and that we all resolve to go from the bottom of the most wanted to be one of the best.”

The state also ranked poorly in the annual Tax Foundation rankings of small business climate released in 2022. The Tax Foundation’s 2023 state business tax climate rankings plced New York 49th in the country. Its’ top ranking in the Tax Foundation rankings since 2013 was 48th in 2018. Another set of small business climate rankings by the Motley Fool ranked New York right in the middle at 25th in the country, with its total score dragged down for tax climate.

“I rise to also thank the sponsor for celebrating May as Small Business Month,” said Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay. “Small business owners, they are farmers that grow our food, the people that build our homes, the people that repair our cars, the people that print our lawn signs a as we go into elections. They are the people that sponsor our Little League teams, support our local charities and keep our downtowns vibrant. Small business truly is the very fabric of our state and our business. They face a lot of challenges, especially during the pandemic. but the bottom line is they are resilient. The backbone of our state is small business. As Senator Ryan mentioned, half of the employees in New York state are employed by small business. This chamber has an obligation to ensure that they are successful because they are New York state. As a fellow small business owner myself, I can tell you, it is difficult. It is rewarding, but thank God for the small businesses here in New York state.”