Press Room

Translation and Interpreting in the News

New York City Mayor Bloomberg Announces Expansion of Translation and Interpretation Services for City Schools

On February 27, 2006, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, joined by Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, City Council Member Hiram Monserrate, and Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Guillermo Linares, announced the establishment of a regulation to formalize and expand translation and interpretation services for non-English-speaking parents of children in New York City public schools. This formal regulation will build on services currently provided to parents through the New York City Department of Education's (DOE) Translation and Interpretation Unit and funding provided directly to schools for these services. Mayor Bloomberg also committed an additional $2 million in future funding, bringing total spending on these services to more than $12 million. For complete details, go to www.nyc.gov (click on Office of the Mayor and then News and Press Releases, and select February 2006).

ATA Member Vigdis Eriksen Joins NYC Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner of Small Business Services to Announce Major New Initiative

ATA member Vigdis Eriksen, president and CEO of Eriksen Translations, joined New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert Walsh, and a small group of business leaders in Lower Manhattan earlier this year to announce the first steps to dramatically expand the online capacity of NYC Business Solutions, the city's comprehensive business assistance program. The cornerstone of the expansion will be “Business Express,” a website currently under development that will allow small business owners to set up personal accounts and get the help they need to start and grow their businesses, access incentives, as well as secure necessary permits and licenses from multiple agencies at the same time.

“Eriksen Translations' collaboration with the Department of Small Business Services is a prime example of the kind of relationships we want to foster with businesses throughout the city,” explained Commissioner Walsh. Having worked together with the Department of Small Business Services and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Eriksen was awarded a Building Skills in New York State training grant for $41,291 last November. Eriksen employees are currently participating in training that will keep the company on the forefront of evolving technologies and business practices.

With Ms. Eriksen at his side, Mayor Bloomberg stated, “Since day one, we have worked tirelessly to make the City of New York the most business-friendly city in the nation. The city's Department of Small Business Services has become the premier point of contact for small businesses and entrepreneurs looking for help.” Along with the “Business Express” website, the Department plans to establish 17 new NYC Business Solution Centers, and launch a new real estate selector tool as the city's only no-cost website where businesses can find a comprehensive inventory of available industrial and retail spaces in all five boroughs.

Though Eriksen has worked with several city agencies for many years and continues to develop relationships with offices and organizations at all levels of government, this type of collaboration sets a new standard for Eriksen's community involvement. “As a language services provider, I have always been committed to bridging cultural gaps around me, but it's an honor to benefit from the same kind of thinking on the business level. I'm very proud to help the mayor and the City of New York promote this wonderful resource,” said Ms. Eriksen.