August 2026

August in NYC means heat, humidity, vacation schedules, and the daily challenge of keeping your customers and staff comfortable. It is also a good time to reset, tighten up operations, and get ready for a busy fall season.

While you have the time, reinforce what makes your business a great place to work – and a place your customers want to return to again and again.

This month we're spreading the word about First Course NYC, our culinary training program now in its 21st cohort! See what NYC restaurant owners and chefs are saying about this valuable resource that supports your team and your business.

Our team is here to help you stay connected to practical resources, programs, and support because running a foodservice business is hard enough without having to figure everything out alone.

Steven Picker & Rosanne Martino

NYC Food and Beverage Industry Partnership at SBS

Tools to Help Train and Retain Your Team

Join Other NYC Restaurants to Train New Culinary Talent

First Course NYC is placing a diverse group of passionate, committed New Yorkers into entry-level cook jobs in some of the city's most demanding full-service restaurants. 

The program also encourages partner restaurants to adopt more consistent practices for onboarding and training their entry-level kitchen hires - things that most directly shape early employee retention and a solid bench of kitchen talent. Participation also includes partial reimbursement of training wages to support the process!

What NYC Chefs and Owners are Saying

"Through our work in the First Course NYC program, we’ve built a strong pipeline of entry-level talent using best practices in onboarding and training. We're better able to turn our apprentices' passion into practice, jump-starting their culinary careers and meeting our company’s mission and goals.”

- Sean Feeney, Co-founder, Grovehouse Hospitality (Lilia, Misi, MIsipasta)

"What makes First Course NYC so impressive is that not only do they make sure trainees are getting a top-notch culinary overview and skills training ... it also provides a comprehensive onboarding and training roadmap for restaurant partners to ensure new hires get the best kick-start to their culinary careers."

- Sohui Kim, Executive Chef/Partner, Gage & Toller, Insa, Sunken Harbor Club

"Here at COQODAC we face the same challenges as many other restaurants - we need eager, driven candidates who are willing to put in the effort required at a high-volume store without sacrificing quality. We have participated in several training cohorts and have connected with candidates that fit our needs; including one who has recently risen to Junior Sous Chef in our company. The participants from First Course NYC have a strong desire to better themselves which translates into a strong work ethic."

- Dustin Drewyer, Chef de Cuisine, COQODAC

Run a Full-Service Restaurant in NYC and Want to Become a Program Partner?

Free On-Site English Language Training for Foodservice Workers

Partner with #English2Stay and Support Your Employees.

• Free vocational English classes for your employees 
• Training developed with restaurant operators to address restaurant-focused language needs and strengthen employee engagement 
• Reduce language barriers, avoid costly mistakes, and support employee retention

What Participating Business Owners are Saying

"Since the training began, employees are better able to communicate clearly during daily work tasks."

"The program has helped reduce misunderstandings in the workplace."

"I catch my employees quizzing each other on kitchen vocabulary."

Stay Up To Date

Everything You Need To Know To Plan, Launch, and Operate a Successful NYC Restaurant

Whether you’re thinking about opening a restaurant or bakery, or have been operating a foodservice business for years, NYC Restaurant Academy has something for you and your managers. All webinar sessions are free. 

Prep School:  

• Overview 1. Plan & Finance Your Food Business  
• Overview 2. Launch & Operate Your Food Business 

Topic-Specific Sessions: 

• Creating an Effective Restaurant Business Plan 
• Food Service Financial Management 
• Company Culture & Leadership 
• Compliance:  
• Food Service Rules & Regulations 
• Employment Rules & HR Practices 

Businesses in Staten Island and Midtown South must enter into a contract with a zone-authorized private carter between July 1 and August 31, 2026, or they will be assigned a carter at the maximum allowable rate.

Neighborhoods in the Midtown South Zone are: Midtown South, Flatiron, Union Square, Koreatown, and the Garment District.

What you need to do:

1. Confirm your zone by address and compare maximum carter rates.
   
2. Obtain multiple quotes and negotiate your rate. Save money! Carters must provide recycling and organics collection at a discounted rate compared to trash collection.
   
3. Sign a new written service agreement with a zone-authorized carter and post your green DSNY decal. 

Now is the time to apply to Dining Out NYC for the Spring 2027 season. The NYC Business Express Service Team (NYC BEST) can help you complete the application accurately so you can save time.

The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is currently accepting applications for the Business Preparedness and Resiliency Program (BPREP) Expanded Risk Assessment Service.

Commercial tenants or property owners located in an area at risk of flooding and/or have sustained damage as a result of flood events from rain or coastal inundation, may be eligible for an on-site, one-on-one risk assessment.

This service helps small business owners to be better equipped to identify risks and handle future threats while staying focused on their overall goal - increased revenue and growth.

Avoid Fines and Violations

Effective December 13, 2026, employers in New York State are required to include an opioid antagonist (such as naloxone/Narcan®) where first aid kits are required by federal law.

This applies to virtually all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and other hospitality-focused businesses in New York.

Upcoming Webinars

Unlock Free Advertising Secrets with LinkNYC

Learn the fundamentals of using this low-cost advertising platform for small businesses.

Additional Resources

Required Signs for NYC Restaurants

Recently updated!

Restaurant Resource Guide

Latest news for restaurant owners.

Commercial Lease Assistance

Free legal services to help eligible businesses with signing a new commercial lease; amending, renewing, or terminating an existing commercial lease; or addressing a commercial lease-related issue.

Hiring, Onboarding & Training Playbook

Best practices guide for retaining employees

NYC Business Express Service Team (NYC BEST)

Get connected to a single point person to help you get licenses and permits faster and avoid/reduce fines and violations.

NYC Business Solutions Centers

Access free legal assistance, business courses, financing assistance, and more. Visit maps.nyc.gov/sbs to find an NYC Business Solutions Center in your borough.

NYC Field Guide

How to Start A Business in New York.

NYC Funds Finder

NYC's first-ever online funding marketplace for small businesses.

NYC Care

NYC CARE is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services offered by NYC Health + Hospitals to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance.

NYC Free Tax Prep for Self-Employed Filers

NYS Restaurant Meals Program

allows some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to buy prepared meals at participating restaurants.

NYS Secure Choice Savings Program

A retirement savings program for private-sector employees who are not offered a retirement plan through their workplace.

NYC Small Business Services Hotline 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692)

Answers small business owners' most pressing questions and connects you to other SBS services. Services are available in multiple languages, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

SBS Social Media Toolkit

Approved language and graphics to share information about SBS programs and initiatives with your networks!

About the Food and Beverage Industry Partnership

The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)’s NYC Food and Beverage Industry Partnership team acts as a convener to drive alignment and collaboration among NYC foodservice industry stakeholders. With input from our advisory groups, we lead strategic thinking to guide city investment in industry-informed services and resources. We work to identify new, actionable ways the city can demonstrate its commitment to support NYC’s food and beverage businesses and workers.