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: Happy Easter, Passover and Ramadan The Bronx Chamber Office will operate remotely on Friday, 4/7/2023 Celebrating Bronx business with the NY Yankees Cannabis Licenses Update Legislative & Advocacy Updates Bronx Chamber Sign On Letter in Support of Criminal Justice Reform Department of Consumer Affairs Updates NYS Policy Updates Member Spotlight AARP Free Shredding Event, Friday, May 5, 2023 | Bronx, NY: 11am - 2pm Upcoming Events From Seed to Mainstream: Impact of Cannabis on Health, Business, and the Economy, 4/20/2023 at 5:00pm

CELEBRATING BRONX GAMECHANGERS WITH THE NY YANKEES

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the NY Yankees celebrated Bronx small businesses and community leaders during the 2023 Bronx Gamechangers Night at Yankee Stadium. The evening celebrated the Spring season as the New York Yankees took on the Phillies! Businesses enjoyed access to the Judges Chamber and an all-inclusive luxury suite, while networking with industry leaders, thought partners and supporters working to make the Bronx thrive. The Bronx Chamber team was thrilled to welcome Bronx businesses and leaders to the Stadium and grateful to the entire team of the Yankees organization for their generosity and hospitality. For more info on how to engage with the Bronx Chamber,email membership@bronxchamber.org

CANNABIS LICENSING UPDATE

On Monday, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) awarded 99 more recreational cannabis dispensary licenses, including three in Brooklyn, nine in the Bronx, 21 in Manhattan, 17 in Queens and three in Staten Island. According to OCM, in order to be eligible for a license, each applicant had to either have had a cannabis conviction or be the family member of someone who has and has owned a profitable business. Nonprofits were eligible if they had a history of serving current or formerly incarcerated individuals; have at least one justice-involved board member; at least five full-time employees; and have operated a social enterprise that had net assets or profit for at least two years. In late 2022, OCM issued just 36 licenses across the state. The first in NYC to be awarded licenses were The Housing Works Cannabis Co., Union Square Travel Agency and Smacked. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce congratulates Chamber members and Board members for their license approval, especially ConBUD NY for their tireless and method based work to bring their vision to reality. Read more about ConBUDNY in this Forbes article. To learn more register for the Bronx Chamber's Industry Insight event: From Seed to Mainstream: The Impact of Cannabis on the Economy, 4/20/2023 at 5:00pm at The Bronx Museum of the Arts.

LEGISLATIVE & ADVOCACY UPDATES

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Releases Business Sign-on Letter in Support of Governor Hochul's Criminal Justice Reform Package. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is soliciting business sign on in support of Governor Kathy Hochul's Criminal Justice Reform component of the NYS budget. This includes bail reform, additional funding for training, discovery, and gun violence prevention. If you would like to sign on to this Memorandum of Support, please email, mbrady@bronxchamber.org.

NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Updates Notice of Hearing attached for proposed rules relating to proposed penalties for second-hand catalytic converters and the notification of security breaches. The hearing for this rule will be held at 11:00am on Monday, May 8. Notice of Adoption to add rules to implement Local Law 144 of 2021, which requires anyone who wants to use an automated employment decision tool to first conduct a bias audit and notify job candidates.   This rule will be effective and DCWP will begin enforcement on July 5, 2023.

NYS FY24 Budget - New York State missed its April 1st statutory deadline for an on-time budget, as the Governor Hochul Administration and New York State Senate and Assembly leaders and staff continued to negotiate toward an agreement on the State’s fiscal and policy priorities for 2023-24.  As the State begins its first week of the new fiscal year without a budget, the Governor delivered of a package of budget extender bills to the Legislature Monday afternoon that will provide the authority for the State to continue spending for its operations for a period of time while negotiations are ongoing. The package of bills delivered allows for state spending from April 1st through April 10th. CAPS Legislation - The Bronx Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the CAPS Coalition - 5,000 diverse small businesses from around New York City and New York State that have come together in an effort to address the lack of enforcement and accountability of the pervasive issue of retail theft, in particular, organized theft and repeat offenders which has negatively impacted our safety, our livelihoods and our communities - is urging Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature to pass the following legislation. S5479 / A5260-A (Scarcella-Spanton / De Los Santos) legislation to make assaulting a retail employee or owner a class D felony such as the case with livery drivers, utility workers, and other essential workers.  S1644 / A1504 (Hoylman-Sigal / Rosenthal) - Creates the offense of fostering the sale of stolen goods.  S4448 / A4121 (Thomas / Dinowitz) - Raises a subsequent offense to grand larceny in the fourth degree. Package Tax – The Bronx Chamber has signed on to a Memo of Opposition to the Governor’s proposal for a new tax deemed the package tax . 911 Modernization Act – The Bronx Chamber has signed on to and issued a Memo of Support for the 911 Modernization Act. 5 Borough Jobs Coalition Update - The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is an active participant in the 5 Borough Jobs Coalition, a consortium of business organizations which advocate for business incentive programs which deeply impact New York City, notably, the Commercial Expansion Program (CEP), Energy Cost Savings Program (ECSP), Commercial Revitalization Program (CRP) / Commercial Rent Tax Special Reduction (CRT), Lower Manhattan Energy Program, and the Lower Manhattan State and Local Sales Tax Exemption. The aforementioned incentives have been included in both one-house budgets and the Governor's budget.

New Trash Set-Out Times Begin April 1 - Effective April 1, 2023, businesses that place waste at the curb* for collection have two setout options: If using a container with a secure lid, a business should place waste at the curb 1 hour before closing, or If putting bags directly on the curb, place waste out after 8:00 PM.   *This does not apply to businesses that have waste collected from a loading dock or other off-street location.   Send your questions to commercialprograms@dsny.nyc.gov. DSNY’s Commercial Engagement Team will provide additional free resources including information on the rules, educational site visits, trainings, and webinars.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 12 from 11:30am to 1:00pm, Primer Paso para Comenzar un Negocio, virtual, El objetivo de este curso es ayudarlo a comprender lo que significa ser un empresario exitoso en la ciudad de Nueva York.ebrate. Resevar un lugar. April 13 from 11:00am to 1:00pm, Getting Money for Your Business: Grants & Loan Opportunities, virtual,This workshop explains how Google Search works and how you can improve a website's visibility with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The session also introduces products like Google My Business, Google Trends, Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Ads, and more.  Reserve Your Spot - Click Here. April 19 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, Building Your Business Reach Customers Online with Google Webinar, virtual, This webinar will provide guidance for businesses interested in applying for loans and grants. In addition to providing an overview of available financing options, we will share tips to consider before taking on debt, an overview of documents commonly required to apply for a loan, and a summary of other loans and grants that are currently available for NYC businesses. Reserve Your Spot - Click Here. April 20 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, From Seed to Mainstream: Impact of Cannabis on our Health, Businesses, and Economy Networking, in-person, Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, NYC Department of Small Business Services, the NYS Latino Cannabis Association, and a line up of experts in the field as we discuss cannabis and its impact on our health, businesses, and economy. The evening includes a fireside chat, networking, bites, and cocktails. Reserve Your Spot - Click Here. April 24 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, Volunteer Day of Action - Jerome Avenue, in-person, Meeting Location: 1377 Jerome Avenue Bronx, NY.  Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Councilmember Althea Stevens, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts & community leaders for a Day of Action and Community Clean Streets including: Tree Bed Stewardship, paint light poles / streetscape maintenance and litter and graffiti removal. This event is sponsored by the Office of Councilmember Althea Stevens and supported with volunteers from Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts. Reserve Your Spot - Click Here April 28 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, Developing a Marketing Strategy for Your Business, virtual, The goal of this course is to help entrepreneurs at any stage build a foundational marketing strategy that will inform every marketing tactic they use. Reserve Your Spot - Click Here June 20 at 7:30am, Joseph P. Kelleher Memorial Golf Tournament, Trump Links at Ferry Point, 500 Hutchinson River Parkway Bronx, NY.  Over 200 notable thought partners, colleagues in business, and influential New Yorkers will tee off for the 2023 Joseph P. Kelleher Memorial Golf Tournament at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. The 2023 Tournament features two (2) tee times, breakfast, lunch, cocktails, and the 2023 Awards Dinner honoring NYC Housing, Preservation, and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrion, Jr. To purchase foursomes or to sponsor, Click HERE

For the complete Bronx Chamber Events Calendar, featuring educational workshops, networking events and other opportunities hosted by the Chamber, its members, & partners, please visit and bookmark our website events calendar link in your browser - new events are added weekly!