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: New, New York Panel Report Released Ground Breaking of Orchard Beach Pavillion Metro - North Stations Ground Breaking Bronx Chamber Volunteers at Part of the Solution (POTS) Bronx Chamber Board Members & Members Honored During Bronx Powerlist Happy Hanukkah Legislative & Advocacy Updates Small Business Forward Hearing by NYC Council Bronx Chamber Testimony on Deliveristas Minimum Wage Bill Storefront Awning Moratorium Update Funding Opportunities Member Spotlight Upcoming Events Mott Haven Holiday Stroll, Avenue NYC Business Development Workshops

NEW, NEW YORK PANEL RELEASES REPORT LAUNCHES LONG TERM STRATEGIC PLAN FOR NEW YORK CITY

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced the New New York: Making New York Work For Everyone action plan developed by the New New York Panel, which the Governor and Mayor convened earlier this year. The action plan includes a set of 40 proposals intended to serve as a roadmap for the city's future and make New York City an even better place to live and work. Launched in May 2022 and led by co-chairs and former deputy mayors Robin Hood CEO Richard Buery and former Sidewalk Labs CEO Daniel Doctoroff, the broad and diverse panel of civic leaders and industry experts worked for six months to generate recommendations for the city and state at a time of historic alignment between the two. "New York City sets the example for the nation's economic development and the work of the New, New York panel provides an innovative path forward for our City and nation," said Lisa Sorin, President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. "Focusing on and strengthening our commercial districts, addressing workforce transportation connectivity, and investing in the future of the innovation economy are all elements that work in tandem to create a stronger, vibrant, inclusive, and holistic economy - one that can be a global example for growth. I am grateful to Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams and Chairs Richard Buery and Dan Doctoroff for their sustained commitment to New York's business community." The recommendations center around how the City and State could partner with each other and across sectors to reimagine a New New York that propels the city and region forward for its next chapter of growth. In the Bronx three areas for strategic investment include: The Bronx HUB, Fordham Road, and the Morris Park neighborhood, specifically the area centered on the Montefiore campus, as well as areas near Metro North station construction.

ORCHARD BEACH PAVILLION GROUNDBREAKING RENOVATION OF NEARLY 150,000 SQUARE FEET BY 2025

Landmarked Orchard Beach Pavilion, built in 1936, is undergoing a major renovation to restore the historic architecture, increase accessibility and make ADA accessible, and create new amenities for the community   This week, the senior leadership team of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce with NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue & New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) Chief Infrastructure Officer Josh Kraus joined Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, Council Member Marjorie Velazquez, Council Member Amanda Farias, Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr., President of the Friends of Pelham Bay Park Nilka Martell, Community Board 10 Parks Chair Terence Franklin, and members of the community to officially break ground on the $87 million Orchard Beach Pavilion project to restore the historic 140,000 square foot space.  This $87 million project will be a boon for the Bronxites, and with it, we’re showing that this administration will continue to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New Yorkers, investing in our public green spaces to serve generations to come.

BRONX METRONORTH STATIONS GROUNDBREAKING LAUNCHES CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETED BY 2027

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce joined Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressmembers Ritchie Torres and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, MTA Chair Janno, Amtrak Chairman, and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson for the ground breaking of the four MTA Metro North stations long planned for the Bronx as part of the Penn Access Plan. The Governor today announced the groundbreaking for the Metro-North Penn Station Access project alongside leaders from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority during a ceremony in the Bronx. With four new stations in the Bronx (Coop City, Parkchester, Morris Park, and Hunts Point), this project will bring rail service within one mile of 500,000 residents and will be the largest expansion of Metro-North Railroad since it was founded in 1983. By offering rail service to and from Manhattan, Westchester and Connecticut, this will expand access to jobs, education and entertainment for East Bronx communities. Additionally, the project will greatly reduce travel times, provide reverse commuting opportunities and offer a critical second route into Manhattan for the first time ever through Metro-North. The expansion will use Amtrak's Hell Gate Line to access Penn Station, optimizing existing infrastructure and minimizing the construction impact on surrounding communities. Metro-North trains stopping at the four new Bronx stations will serve as an extension of the New Haven Line from the New Rochelle Station, offering transit options in the East Bronx to Midtown Manhattan as well as points in Westchester, Connecticut and inversely.

BRONX CHAMBER HOLIDAY GIVE BACK

The Board of Directors and leadership team at the Bronx Chamber of Commerce continued the annual tradition of the Bronx Chamber Give Back - celebrating our community and assisting families and individuals throughout the Bronx during the holiday season. In addition to the Bronx Chamber team touring the facilities of a new member Part of the Solutions (POTS), the team volunteered to serve hot meals and stock the food pantry which serves over 40,000 families each year. Additionally, the leadership team and the Board of Directors mobilizing for our annual toy and gift drive which assisted over 500 Bronx families this holiday season.

BRONX POWERLIST RELEASED 75% OF THISE NAMED ARE MEMBERS OF THE BRONX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The annual Schneps Media Bronx Power List was released this week - a listing of the Bronx's most influential power brokers for 2022. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is proud to note that over 75% of the stellar leaders listed are Bronx Chamber of Commerce Board members, members, or members of the leadership team. We extend heartfelt congratulations to the entire Bronx Power List and thank you for your continued dedication and service to the Bronx. This leadership list demonstrates that we are stronger together.

LEGISLATION & REGULATIONS

Department of Consumer Affairs & Worker Protection DCWP Hearing of Small Business Forward. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is proposing to amend rules to repeal certain violations and make other violations curable to reform small business regulations without compromising consumer and worker wellbeing. DCWP will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule. The public hearing will take place at 11:00AM on Friday, December 30, 2022. The public hearing will be accessible by phone and videoconference. To participate in the public hearing via phone, please dial 646-893-7101 Meeting ID: 280 688 571 103 Passcode: fVo8q5 Bronx Chamber Testifies During Consumer Affairs Hearing on Delivery Worker Minimum Wage Increase The Bronx Chamber of Commerce delivered testimony against the proposed rule change setting a higher minimum wage for third party app delivery workers today. New York City is proposing a minimum pay rate of nearly $24 an hour for "deliveristas," delivery workers engaged in the app-delivery sector. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (“DCWP” or “Department”) is proposing to add rules establishing a method for determining the minimum payments that must be made to a food delivery worker by a third-party food delivery service or third-party courier service, as required by New York City Administrative Code § 20- 1522. The proposal, billed as the first of its kind, would cover salary and expenses, as well as a payment to offset the delivery workers' lack of insurance. DCWP released a report on pay and working conditions of app-based restaurant delivery workers in New York City and the proposed effects of its proposed minimum pay rate.

NYC Department of Buildings Local Law 29 of 2021 extends the moratorium on the issuance of certain accessory sign violations, and the temporary assistance program for certain accessory signs to January 1, 2023. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce team is actively working with the Awnings Taskforce, the Adams Commission for Department of Buildings, and NYC Department of Buildings to address issues associated with this expiration.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Electric and Gas Utility Bill Credit Program for Low-Income Families A one-time, low-income utility bill credit is now available to help low-income electric and gas utility customers pay off past utility bills. This credit, which will be applied to affected customers' bills by the utilities, requires no action by existing low-income customers enrolled in the EAP to receive the benefit. The bill credit is expected to be applied to customers' accounts by August 1, 2022. Any eligible low-income customer that enrolls in EAP before December 31, 2022 will be included in the bill credit program. Learn more about the program here. Temporary Assistance (TA) funding may continue to be utilized to pay utility arrears when the applicant presents with an emergency or immediate need, after first exploring the availability of HEAP. A payment can be made to prevent termination if it is determined that an immediate threat of shut off is present and the applicant/recipient (A/R) is otherwise eligible. Heating and Cooling Assistance (HEAP) 2022-2023 The regular HEAP season opened on November 1, 2022. More information including 2022-23 benefit amounts and eligibility requirements can be found here. The Emergency HEAP Benefit opens on January 1, 2023. The Emergency HEAP Benefit provides assistance to those who are in a heat related emergency. More information including 2022-23 benefit amounts and eligibility requirements can be found here.

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.