Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

Upcoming Events, Legislative News, Grant Opportunities, & More

(Friday) Extra, Extra Click here for this week's video: Adams Commission Launched to Reform Department of Buildings Hispanic Heritage Month Hunts Point Produce Market's $110M Federal Investment Throggs Neck Business Improvement District Listening Session & Tour 2022 Bronx Chamber Gala Legislative & Advocacy Updates Coffee & Conversations Series  NYC Cannabis Launched Funding Opportunities NYS SEED Program for Early-Stage Businesses Upcoming Events

BRONX CHAMBER JOINS ADAMS COMMISSION TO REFORM NYC DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS

Darry Saldana and Miguel Matos of The Bronx Chamber of Commerce will serve of the Adams Commission, tasked with reforming the New York City Department of Buildings and creating a more customer and business focused department to streamline the administrative processes of the department. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Eric A. Ulrich announced major steps to refocus the DOB on providing improved customer service and supporting the city's economic recovery. Mayor Adams and Commissioner Ulrich kicked off the "Adams Commission" – a 90-day commission convening stakeholders from labor, industry, the nonprofit sector, and city government to produce a comprehensive blueprint recommending structural improvements at DOB. Mayor Adams and Commissioner Ulrich kicked off the effort with immediate action, launching two new customer service units: the Small Business Support Team (SBST) and the Major Projects Development Unit (MPDU). These new units will accelerate project timelines by providing dedicated services to ensure applications avoid unnecessary pitfalls. Read more.

BRONX CHAMBER JOINS MAYOR ADAMS TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Ms. Sorin is the first Latina to lead a borough-wide chamber of commerce in the history of the City of New York, and had faithfully executed her role while elevating the voices of so many individuals of Hispanic heritage. Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements for the United States and was codified and proclaimed by President Johnson in 1969. The Bronx Chamber will keep the celebration going by sharing a history of Bronx Hispanic businesses and the community's impact on the Bronx's economic development and also highlight the month during the Thursday, September 22, Cigars, Scotch, and Networking event at The Bronx Havana Room, click here for tickets. Lisa Sorin, President of The Bronx Chamber of Commerce, joined Board members, NYC Leaders, and Mayor Eric Adams to celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

HUNTS POINT PRODUCE MARKET RECEIVES $110 MILLION FROM UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the Hunts Point Produce Market has been selected for a $110 million federal grant to upgrade and improve its facilities. The funding comes from a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant and will be used to strengthen critical freight movement and improve the environment, public health, and quality of life for the Hunts Point community. The new produce market will be an approximately 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art intermodal freight facility with more than 800,000 square feet of refrigerated warehouse space and 200,00 square feet of ancillary space. The new facility will be compliant with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new Food Safety Modernization Act and will expand much-needed refrigerated warehouse space and pallet capacity — eliminating 1,000 diesel-powered refrigerated trailer units currently idling onsite as additional storage and significantly reducing emissions in the surrounding community. The redevelopment will also improve site circulation and coordination of inbound and outbound traffic, and it will facilitate increased rail usage.

BRONX CHAMBER CONTINUES BID LISTENING SESSIONS & TOURS NYC SBS AWARDS $800,000 TO ACCELERATE BID FORMATION IN NYC

Our business improvement districts are vitally important to our City's economic recovery. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce continued its strategy to listen, tour, and discuss solutions to economic development challenges in all Bronx commercial corridors, with a particular focus on business improvement districts. This week the Bronx Chamber join the Bronx Borough President, Councilmember Velasquez, and community leaders for a walking tour of Throggs Neck Business Improvement District to celebrate the BID's work in the area, 22 new businesses, and discuss how to cut through red tape to deliver for more Bronx businesses. In testament to the success of Business Improvement Districts, today New York City Department of Small Business Services announced $800,000 of grant awards to accelerate BID development and formation. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Third Avenue Business Improvement District were among the awardees. 16 community-based development organizations (CBDOs) will be awarded a total of $800,000 in Business Improvement District (BID) Exploration and Formation grants. The funding will be used to help CBDOs take critical steps to organize and plan BID formations in 17 commercial corridors around the city. This first-of-its-kind BID development program fulfills Mayor Eric Adams's commitment to invest in underserved commercial corridors and foster robust networks of small businesses around the five boroughs as outlined in Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City's Economic Recovery, released earlier this year.

2022 GALA CELEBRATES MEMBERS JOE KELLEHER, JOHN COLLAZZI, THE NEW YORK YANKEES

The Board of Directors of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce celebrate the Chamber's diverse history during the 2022 Bronx Chamber of Commerce Gala held on September 29, 2002 at 6:30pm at Marina Del Rey. Over 600 attendees are expected at the Bronx's #1 business networking event. The evening features a two hour cocktail reception, dinner, and dancing. New York City Mayor Eric Adams will deliver remarks. Star-studded entertainment line up: Sal Valentinetti "The Voice" as Master of Ceremonies  Brenda K. Starr, free style artist C-Bank, free style artist Cynthia, free style artist Steven Maglio, singer of standards DJ Serg, acclaimed DJ 100% of your support of this signature annual event featuring networking, top tier entertainment, and more, directly supports business and economic development in the Bronx. Please join us in building a stronger business fabric in the Bronx and sponsor, purchase your table, journal ads, or tickets today!

LEGISLATION & REGULATIONS

Coffee and Conversation Series Launched The Legislative Affairs Committee of The Bronx Chamber of Commerce launches the Coffee and Conversation series beginning September 27. The series brings together decision makers, influencers, and thought leaders shaping the economic future of the Bronx and highlights priorities identified by Bronx Chamber members. The first cohort of guests include:  Hon. Julie Menin, Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Small Business, 9/27/2022 at 3:00pm, click here to register  Marlene Cintron, Regional Administration - Atlantic Region II, United States Small Business Administration, 10/5/2022 at 10:00am, click here to register  Elizabeth Lusskin, Executive Vice President - Small Business and Technology Development, Empire State Development, 10/13/2022 at 10:00am, click here to register

Cannabis NYC Launched The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) launched Cannabis NYC to support the development of a thriving and equitable cannabis industry with first-of-its-kind support for aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs. Through strategic outreach, public engagement, business services, and advocacy efforts, Cannabis NYC will support the creation of good jobs, successful small businesses, and sustainable economic opportunity to address historic harms of cannabis prohibition. Read more.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The New York State Seed Funding Grant Program was created to provide assistance to early-stage small businesses to succeed in a recovering New York State economy. Eligible Applicants must provide evidence, acceptable to New York State that the Eligible Applicant is operational and meets the Program requirements. As part of the application each micro-business, small business, or for-profit arts and cultural organization including independent arts contractors shall provide sufficient documentation in a manner prescribed by Empire State Development ("ESD") to demonstrate Program qualification. Only one grant per business EIN or SSN is allowed. Due to a limited amount of funding and the high volume of requests expected, business type, geography and industry may factor into ability to receive a grant.