New York City Small Business Services (SBS)’s first Korean-American Commissioner, Kevin Kim, is set to step down at the end of June. Prior to his departure, Kim will attend the Enterprise Expo hosted by the City Small Business Services on May 29, marking a successful conclusion to his career at the SBS. During the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, our correspondent captured Kim’s presence at the celebration event at the Mayor’s residence. Through a Q&A session with the Epoch Times, readers gained insight into Commissioner Kevin Kim’s future plans, milestones during his tenure, and his leadership as an Asian-American official guiding a government team.
Kevin Kim expressed, “Being able to assist over 200,000 small businesses in New York City has been the best job I have ever had. 23% of small businesses in New York City are founded by Asian immigrants, and since my own parents were immigrant business owners, I resonate deeply with this work. I understand that taking on the role of Commissioner means leading businesses out of the shadows of the pandemic, and I genuinely want to help business owners like my parents. New York City has achieved significant recovery already, with one-sixth of businesses being established during the Adams administration. Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer, responsible for economic development policy, have laid out visionary plans to aid small business recovery. Therefore, I am very proud to have been a part of this team. My next step is to spend more time with my two young daughters, one aged 14 and the other only 7. While I love what I am doing, I now need to allocate more time to my family.”
One of Kim’s achievements is the establishment of the “NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund,” the largest public-private partnership loan fund specifically for small businesses. Around 30% of the funds are directed towards Asian-American-owned enterprises, while up to 80% of the funds support minority-owned or women-owned businesses (M/WBE). Furthermore, 59% of the funds flow to businesses in moderate to low-income communities, with 69% going to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) identified entrepreneurs. Successfully channelling funds to communities in need was a joint effort of the entire SBS team, treating each business owner as a top priority.
Kevin Kim emphasized, “The Asian-American community is highly diverse, so I believe that it is essential for us to establish networks within the community, understand each other, and work together. During the pandemic, when anti-Asian hate crimes surged, the outside world did not distinguish whether you were Chinese, Korean, or Japanese American. This was a valuable lesson highlighting the necessity for us to form strong bonds within the community and push forward common interests. It is crucial to engage with all ethnicities in New York City. I encourage everyone to actively participate in their communities and become role models for the younger generation, as our strength lies in unity.”
Reflecting on his role as Commissioner at SBS for the past two and a half years, Kim mentioned that he took on the position during the most severe phase of the pandemic when thousands of businesses were closing. As previously mentioned, one-sixth of the businesses were established under the Adams administration, and Kim expressed his gratitude towards Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Springer for devising forward-thinking plans and leading economic recovery. The current economic situation is vastly different from that in January 2022, which was filled with despair and worry. As Kim now walks through business districts in the city’s 51 council districts, he senses a palpable air of hope. People will always come to this city in pursuit of the American Dream.
In conclusion, when interviewed, Kim stated that he would be stepping down at the end of June, though the exact date has not been finalized. For the inaugural “2024 Small Business Month Expo” scheduled for May 29 at Manhattan’s Pier 36, he expressed excitement and issued a public invitation through the media, saying, “This expo is very special, and we invite everyone to join us!”