A group of local small business leaders say startups need more than tax relief to help grow the local economy.
Mark Sawczuk, managing partner of smart data company 5-D Innovations, attended the meeting.
Sawczuk says small businesses looking for quicker access to federal dollars and protection against foreign countries, "Those initials funds are critical, and more than that how do you help them protect their intellectual properties so that they can get a competitive edge when they do commercialize something. So, they have something to protect their interests from other companies that can easily swallow them with nothing more than bank roll and hiring people."
Democratic Representative Kathy Hochul hosted the forum in Henrietta. She is running against Republican challenger Chris Collins.
In an effort to help startup companies, Hochul says she plans to introduce legislation this week to make the Research and Development tax credit permanent.