By: Farooq Mirza
On March 6, 2026, leaders from dozens of minority and ethnic chambers of commerce gathered on the steps of New York City Hall in a historic show of unity to spotlight systemic barriers facing minority-owned, immigrant, and small businesses. The event, organized by the Multicultural Coalition of Minority Chambers of Commerce (also referred to as the New York State Coalition of Multicultural Chambers of Commerce), drew representatives from over 30 chambers including Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.
The press conference addressed multiple pressing issues: prolonged delays and discrimination in New York City’s Small Business Services (SBS) minority business certification program, restrictive federal Small Business Administration (SBA) policies under the Trump administration, rising tax burdens, bureaucratic hurdles, and threats to economic growth for immigrant and minority entrepreneurs.
Duvi Honig, Founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, delivered a pointed critique of the SBS certification system, calling it “broken” and discriminatory. He highlighted delays exceeding 16 months for approvals in women-owned, Latino-owned, and other minority communities, which he said hinder rather than empower businesses, causing them to “fall backwards and fail.” Honig also advocated strongly for the inclusion of Jewish-owned businesses—particularly Orthodox ones—in city minority certification programs, citing persistent antisemitism, hate crimes, boycotts, and historical discrimination. He referenced a January 2025 federal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and his chamber under the Biden administration as a model, urging New York City and SBS to sign a similar MOU immediately to recognize Jewish businesses as minorities and grant them access to contracts, capital, and support.
Frank Garcia , presiding over the event as a key organizer and chamber president, opened by underscoring the historic nature of the gathering—the first time such a broad coalition of ethnic chambers had united. He emphasized that the group represents nearly 30 million minority businesses and is responding to attacks on immigrants, excessive bureaucracy stifling Latino, minority, and immigrant enterprises, and policies blocking rapid economic expansion. Garcia announced the launch of the first-ever political action committee (PAC) dedicated to minority and ethnic chambers to amplify their political voice and advocate for change. He shared frustrations from recent hearings and productive discussions, including a meeting with the New York City Council Speaker involving over 75 chamber representatives concerned about billions in business potentially leaving New York due to loan access issues. Stressing self-empowerment, he declared, “Who’s our voice? It’s us,” before introducing subsequent speakers.
Council Member Chanel Thomas-Henry , Chair of the New York City Council’s Small Business Committee (representing District 21, including Corona, East Elmhurst, and parts of Jackson Heights), addressed the crowd in solidarity with the coalition. She directly called on the Trump administration to reverse what she termed discriminatory policies barring Green Card holders (legal permanent residents) from certain federal programs, including SBA loans. Thomas-Henry stressed that immigrant entrepreneurs have built families, businesses, and communities in the U.S. and deserve equal economic opportunities. She warned that such exclusions would weaken the economy, reduce jobs, and harm neighborhoods, while also noting the added strain of rising property taxes on small businesses and homeowners. She committed to collaborating with council colleagues on pro-small business policies to foster growth and sustain local economies.
Mr. Azam Adam said that
“America Was Built by Immigrants”
America is a nation built by immigrants. From the very beginning, people came here with a dream — to work hard, build businesses, and create a better future for their families.
Immigrants built our railroads.
They opened small businesses.
They created jobs and strengthened our communities.
Today, millions of lawful permanent residents — Green Card holders — continue to contribute to the success of our country every single day. They pay taxes, employ workers, and invest in our local economy.
But many hardworking legal residents still face barriers when trying to access Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, which are meant to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
If someone is living legally in the United States, paying taxes, and contributing to our economy, they deserve the same opportunity to start and grow a business.
Because small businesses are the backbone of America’s economy.
And immigrants have always been a key part of that success.
When immigrants succeed, America succeeds.
It’s time to ensure that opportunity remains open to everyone who believes in the American dream and works hard to achieve it.
The coalition’s unified demands include immediate fixes to certification delays and discrimination, easing compliance burdens, protecting access to capital (especially SBA loans), opposing real estate tax hikes, and broader reforms to support minority and immigrant business growth. The event highlighted collaborative solutions, with plans for presentations from entities like New York Capital on support options.
This convening marks a significant escalation in advocacy for equity in minority business programs, building on federal precedents and signaling stronger political organizing through the new PAC amid ongoing national and local policy debates.
