From left: Deputy Mayor Robert Steel and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn

New York City officials are expanding a business program aimed at streamlining the process of opening a new restaurant to include the entire retail spectrum, officials announced today. The first step is the launch of a survey to collect information on obstacles that impede businesses opening in the city.

The program is based on the New Business Acceleration Team that Mayor Michael Bloomberg created in his 2010 State of the City speech. [more]