January 7, 2019 -- Members of Westchester County’s small business community will be forced to forgo a networking event planned for this Friday, January 11, as the federal government shutdown enters its third week.

The event, entitled “The 3C’s of the Small Business Administration: A Discussion on Capital, Counseling and Contracting,” was to be run by the County’s Office of Economic Development in conjunction with the federal Small Business Administration. The federal government shutdown over funding for a border wall has forced dozens of government offices to close, impacting countless Westchester County residents, and requiring federal workers to stay home or forgo pay as no solution is in sight from Washington.

The event was to be held in the Little Theater at the Westchester County Center. Small business owners could sign up for one-on-one counseling with the Small Business Development Council, and gain information on how financing, business education and government contracts could expand their business.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “It is unfortunate that our small business community will have to suffer because of the federal government gridlock. As this shutdown continues, the effects will be more strongly and widely felt. It is my hope that we will be able to reschedule this important event for our small business owners in the near future.”

For more information, call the Westchester County Office of Economic Development at (914) 995-2900.