NYC Mayor Names Kenny Minaya as Small Business Commissioner
The son of Dominican immigrant bakers brings lived experience — and a mandate to cut red tape — to one of the city's most business-critical agencies.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Kenny Minaya as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), effective March 2, 2026. The move signals a push to make city government more accessible and less burdensome for the small businesses that anchor New York's neighborhoods.
Who Is Kenny Minaya?
Minaya was born and raised in New York City. For more than four decades, his parents — immigrants from the Dominican Republic — have owned and operated a bakery in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan. That background shapes his professional identity in fundamental ways.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the City College of New York and a Juris Doctor from the CUNY School of Law. Before entering city government, he worked at Catholic Migration Services and Make the Road New York, where he represented immigrant tenants in Brooklyn and Queens facing housing instability.
In 2016, Minaya joined the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) as Deputy Chief of Staff. By 2022, he had risen to First Deputy Commissioner, overseeing the agency's operations and finances. He lives in the Bronx with his wife; the couple is expecting their first child.
What Is the Department of Small Business Services?
The NYC Department of Small Business Services helps businesses start, operate, and grow across all five boroughs. Its core work includes connecting entrepreneurs with resources, training, and technical assistance, as well as supporting workforce development and commercial corridor revitalization.
The agency also serves as a primary point of contact for the city's 78 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), which deliver supplemental services along commercial corridors throughout New York.
Mayor Mamdani's Small Business Agenda
Mayor Mamdani has made small business support a central pillar of his affordability agenda. Shortly after taking office, he signed Executive Order 11, directing seven city agencies to inventory the fees and civil penalties imposed on small businesses and identify opportunities to reduce and streamline them.
The urgency is real: New York City small businesses currently navigate a web of more than 6,000 regulations and rules — a compliance burden that raises costs for both businesses and their customers.
Why This Appointment Matters
Minaya's background is notable for combining legal expertise, government operations experience, and a personal connection to immigrant entrepreneurship — a profile rarely seen in leadership of economic development agencies. Advocacy groups including the NYC BID Association, Make the Road New York, the Yemeni American Merchants Association, and the NYS Latino Restaurant Association have all expressed support for the appointment.
Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su framed the mandate plainly: make it simpler to open, operate, and grow a small business, and ensure that every neighborhood entrepreneur has a fair shot at success.
What to Watch Next
Under Minaya's leadership, the key near-term question is how quickly SBS and allied agencies can translate Executive Order 11 into concrete fee reductions and regulatory streamlining. The Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice is expected to report reforms in the months ahead. Small business advocates and BID leaders have signaled they are ready to partner closely on that work.
Key Facts at a Glance
Minaya previously served as First Deputy Commissioner at DCWP (2022–2026)
His family has operated a bakery in Inwood, Manhattan for 42 years
Mayor Mamdani signed Executive Order 11 to review small business fees and fines
NYC small businesses face over 6,000 regulations and rules
SBS supports businesses across all five boroughs and works with 78 BIDs citywide