News Summary
In an effort to honor Small Business Month, Silly Nice and stupidDOPE have launched an initiative to spotlight family-owned businesses across New York State. The program encourages locals to nominate businesses, including bakeries, restaurants, and repair shops, thereby extending the initiative through the year due to high community interest. The goal is to enhance visibility for these businesses that are vital to the cultural fabric of the state’s neighborhoods and economies.
New York City – Silly Nice and stupidDOPE have launched an initiative aimed at spotlighting family-owned businesses throughout New York State in honor of Small Business Month. This program has generated an enthusiastic response from local residents, who have nominated numerous businesses, including bakeries, repair shops, florists, and restaurants.
Due to the high level of interest from the community, the spotlight initiative has been extended through the end of the year. The primary goal of this initiative is to increase visibility for family-owned businesses, which play a vital role in shaping the character and culture of New York’s diverse neighborhoods.
Family-owned businesses are recognized as essential community members, often providing personalized services and preserving traditions that customers hold dear. The initiative highlights the importance of family involvement, community impact, and overall quality in business operations. It aims to support these businesses as they contribute significantly to local economies and cultural identity.
Residents interested in participating can nominate their favorite family-owned businesses by sending an email to info@stupidDOPE.com. Nominating is simple and requires the submission of the business name, along with the neighborhood or city it is located in, its website URL, and a brief description detailing its significance in the community. To enhance the nomination, residents are also encouraged to include optional information about the business’s signature products, years in operation, and any community initiatives they undertake.
Nominations are continuously reviewed on a rolling basis, meaning that submissions can be made at any time throughout the year. Selected businesses will benefit from an array of promotional opportunities, including:
- An editorial feature on stupidDOPE, focusing on the business’s origin, ownership, craftsmanship, and its role within the community.
- An SEO-optimized article designed to improve local search rankings and connect new customers to the business.
- Direct links to the selected businesses’ websites and contact information.
- Social media amplification through stupidDOPE’s extensive channels.
This initiative is open to a wide variety of family-owned businesses, covering both brick-and-mortar establishments and e-commerce operations throughout the state. By targeting diverse industries and neighborhoods, the program aims to ensure a broad representation of the unique contributions these businesses make to their communities.
Observations from the initiative indicate that standout nominations commonly share themes of craftsmanship, consistency in service, community connection, originality, and resilience. These elements reflect the qualities that make family-owned businesses so cherished within local areas.
Community participation is highly encouraged, and residents are invited to spread the word about the program to help ensure that those family businesses that matter most to them are recognized and celebrated. Each nomination tells a compelling story, showcasing the resilience and creativity of family businesses that have thrived, often through challenges and changes in their environments.
The partnership behind this initiative includes Silly Nice, a Black-Owned and Veteran-Owned cannabis brand known for producing small-batch products and investing in local entrepreneurship, and stupidDOPE, a digital lifestyle publication dedicated to connecting impactful stories with a global audience.
By combining community roots with global exposure, both Silly Nice and stupidDOPE aim to uplift family businesses in New York, celebrating their enduring importance and contributions. Nominations can be submitted not just by customers or neighbors but also by staff, owners, local organizations, and even through self-nominations. This initiative seeks not only to acknowledge these businesses but to weave their stories deeper into the fabric of New York’s vibrant communities.
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Additional Resources
- Stupid Dope: Silly Nice and stupidDOPE Expand New York Small Business Spotlight
- The New York Times: Clocks at La Vallée, Como, Italy
- SI Live: Family Recipes and Local Charm on Staten Island
- NBC Washington: Immigration Raid at Upstate New York Food Manufacturer
- CNYBJ: 2025 Family-Owned Business Directory
- Wikipedia: Family Business
- Google Search: Small Business News New York 2025
- Google Scholar: Family-Owned Business New York
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Small Business
- Google News: Small Business New York
Author: STAFF HERE NEW YORK WRITER
NEW YORK STAFF WRITER The NEW YORK STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewYork.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New York, the five boroughs, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as New York Fashion Week, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Tribeca Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and United Way of New York, plus leading businesses in finance and media that power the local economy such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBuffalo.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into New York's dynamic landscape.
