Credit unions based in the Brooklyn borough may be able to form more relationships with small businesses who say the cost of insurance is among the top reasons hampering their growth.
According to the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce's annual member issues survey, the top three ways businesses in the area can generate new jobs are through easier access to credit and loans, tax credits for hiring and wage subsidies to offset the cost of hiring for the next six to 12 months.
Business owners also said the top obstacles to their growth are the increased cost of providing health insurance, fuel or energy costs, cost of general liability insurance, problems with access to credit and liquidity, finding and hiring reliable, qualified workers, and traffic and transportation problems.
On health insurance, 46% said they support national health insurance reform if it means employers will have to contribute to the cost. Forty-eight percent of respondents believe the Brooklyn economy will be better in 2010 than it was in 2009, which is a 10% increase from the chamber's previous survey's data.
