For some, this means saving up for the harder days to come and for others, it is all about exerting more efforts to keep their jobs. Yet for a few, this is an opportunity to start specially since after all these economic talk is over, there is nowhere to go but up.
The Asian American/Asian Research Institute  (AAARI) of the City University of New York (CUNY) organized the Asian American Economic Empowerment Conference last week at Baruch College in order to bolster this belief that there are opportunities out there for small business owners.

"We want to provide our community with information about starting a business and growing a business. There is a tremendous interest in entrepreneurship in the Asian American community, and we wanted to make sure that they get the resources, that they have the ability to network and that they get information that is honest and accurate," Joyce Moy, AAARI’s executive director told the Asian Journal.

A variety of topics were discussed, including opportunities and strategies needed in order to survive this difficult economy.

"If you want to borrow money so that you can jumpstart your small business, now is the right time. Don’t look at the economic downturn as a downturn, look at it as market change," said Pearl Chin, executive director of Chinatown Manpower Project during a panel discussion on starting one’s own business.

The sessions covered many questions, including the ABCs of starting your own business and whether one should start a new business in this economic climate.

"Do your research. Ask questions. Ask people for help in making your own business plan. Ask yourself if you are entrepreneurial material," said Brian Yeung, business advisor of York College—Small Business Development Center as he rattled off the basics in coming up with a small business.

As an organization, York–SBDC has been helping small business through all phases of growth for almost two decades now, including helping clients access millions of dollars for their businesses.

Before setting off into the entrepreneur world, one needs to know the roadblocks and problems that can be found along the way. York-SBDC helps their clients in improving the viability of their small business through one-on-one assistance in areas of access to capital, business planning, marketing, financial management and technology transfer.

The good news to budding entrepreneurs is this: York-SBDC does not charge for its services since the program is administered by the State of New York and sponsored by the State, the US Small Business Administration and the City University of New York at York College.

"We help entrepreneurs, business and the industry solve problems. The timing now may be off but there are still opportunities around," added Yeung, who has over 10 years of diversified experience and expertise is small business development.