Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

2022 Bronx Chamber of Commerce Gala Highlights

(Friday) Extra, Extra Click here for this week's video:   2022 Bronx Chamber Gala Highlights   Thank You to Our Supporters   A Tribute to Joseph Kelleher   Bronx Champions Circle created by Founding Investors, Simone Development & The New York Yankees Legislative & Advocacy Updates Funding Opportunities NYS SEED Program for Early-Stage Businesses Upcoming Events

A TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH KELLEHER

NEW YORK YANKEES RECIEVE JOSEPH P. KELLEHER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

During the 2022 Bronx Chamber of Commerce Gala, Chamber President, Lisa Sorin, and Simone Development President, Joseph Simone, honored the New York Yankees with the Joseph P. Kelleher Award for Excellence. The Joseph P. Kelleher Award of Excellence is a presentation made each year by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce to a person or organization that exemplifies the vision and dedication of our Board Chairman, Joseph P. Kelleher. Its recipient is selected for a strong showing of dedication to community, economic development, philanthropy and leadership.  The imagery of a soaring eagle in flight - a symbol of freedom, strength and brilliance - represents not only the vision of our county, but of the ideals by which Joe Kelleher lives his life and guided the Chamber throughout his decades of service to the Bronx and beyond.

BRONX CHAMPIONS CIRCLE CREATED FOUNDING INVESTORS: SIMONE DEVELOPMENT & THE NY YANKEES

The Bronx Champions Circle, created with support from founding investors Simone Development and The New York Yankees, provides long term, strategic, and sustainable financial support for The Bronx Chamber of Commerce to serve over 27,000 Bronx businesses. The Bronx Champions Circle is funded by large individual or corporate contributions to The Bronx of Commerce through cash, stock transfer, assets, family funds, or insurance and bequests. The Circle seeks to chart a sustainable financial course for the long term services of the organization. More details on the Bronx Champions Circle will be announced during the Tuesday, October 25, 2022 Chairman's Reception.

Adoption of New Regulations for Process Servers The Department of Consumer Affairs and Worker Protection announced a Notice of Adoption for rules relating to process servers. These rules will become effective on October 23. For Notice, click here Notice of Hearing Related to Space Heaters Notice of Hearing relating to proposed rules regarding the sale of space heaters. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 26 at 11:00am. For Notice, click here

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. To apply, click here.

The $250 million COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program provides financial assistance to New York State small businesses burdened with a range of operational costs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, from structural changes and building upgrades to health-related supplies and materials. The Program offers qualifying businesses relief from the added economic burden by providing tax credits to help reduce the pandemic-related financial impact.    Small businesses can receive a tax credit of 50% of qualifying expenses up to a maximum of $25,000 in tax credits based on qualifying expenses of $50,000.  Click HERE for to apply

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, October 5 from 10:00am to 11:00am Coffee & Conversation w. Marlene Cintron US Small Business Administration, Atlantic Region Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for coffee and conversation with Marlene Cintron, United States Small Business Administration, Atlantic Region II Administrator, charged with overseeing New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Puerto Rico, and the U.S Virgin Islands on behalf of President Joseph Biden. Learn about federal business incentives, combatting inflation, and the Biden economic plan. Click HERE To Register

Thursday, October 13 from 10:00am to 11:00am Coffee & Conversation w. Elizabeth Lusskin Empire State Development Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for coffee and conversation with Elizabeth Lusskin, Executive Vice President for Small Business and Technology at Empire State Development. Learn about small business incentives, tech solutions, and the Empire State Development strategy for economic recovery.  Click HERE To Register

Tuesday, October 25 from 10:00am to 11:00am Coffee & Conversation w. Hon. Rafael Salamanca Chair, NYC Council Committee on Land Use Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for coffee and conversation with Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Chair of the Council Committee on Land Use to discuss redevelopment projects, Hunts Point markets, the Kingsbridge Armory, zoning text amendments sponsored by NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and charting a brighter economic future for the Bronx.  Click HERE To Register

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES NEXT STEPS IN $15 MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE PHASE-IN FOR COUNTIES UPSTATE

 

Division of the Budget Recommends One-Dollar Minimum Wage Increase to $14.20-Per Hour for Counties Outside New York City, Long Island, and Westchester,

Beginning December 31

DOB Analysis Finds Regional Unemployment Rates Outside of

New York City at Historic Lows

Public Comment Period Begins Today; New Yorkers Invited to Share Feedback

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) today announced next steps in the state’s $15 minimum hourly wage phase-in. Commissioner Roberta Reardon issued an Order calling for the minimum wage rate in counties outside of New York City, Long Island and Westchester to rise by $1 per hour, from $13.20 to $14.20, following a statutorily required economic analysis conducted by the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB). The Division's analysis found evidence of pressure for wages to rise in the midst of a continued pandemic-driven labor shortage. Currently, the minimum wage rate in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County is $15 per hour, having reached that level following phased-in annual increases pursuant to statute.

The Commissioner's Order will be enacted through rulemaking and is subject to public comment before a final decision is made. NYSDOL announced the start of the public comment period for New Yorkers to weigh in on the recommendation and invited New Yorkers to share feedback by e-mailing regulations@labor.ny.gov by December 11, 2022. If accepted, the wage increase would take effect on December 31, 2022.

“By raising the minimum wage incrementally, New York State is helping businesses adjust to the new rate, while giving low-wage workers the ability to better participate in our economy,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “Continuing with the multi-year plan to raise the minimum wage is in line with market standards and ensures that no worker is left behind.”

An average of 200,000 New Yorkers in these upstate counties will benefit from this wage increase, 44% of which are full time workers and of those, nearly 25% are supporting children below age 18. In addition, this increase will help to close the gender pay gap, providing an estimated 110,000 women with greater financial stability.

New York’s minimum wage statute requires that DOB review the state’s economy annually to determine whether wage increases should move forward as scheduled. For the minimum wage that will be applicable in 2023, the statute also requires that DOB, in coordination with NYSDOL, evaluate various economic factors, such as consumer prices, and determine the rate of minimum wage increases outside of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester.

In its analysis, DOB considered various measures of inflation; statewide average wages; labor productivity; the pace of the state’s labor market recovery; labor demand and supply; regional unemployment rates and other trends in the low-wage employment sector; the impact of COVID-19 on the minimum wage workforce; and other factors. Key findings from DOB’s minimum wage report include:

• Regional unemployment rates outside of New York City are at historic lows. The 3.1 percent rate for this area for the four months from April through July 2022 is the lowest in the history of the data going back to 1976 and is lower than the national 3.5 percent rate for the same month. These data confirm the unprecedented tightness of the State labor market outside of New York City.
• Low-wage industries are overrepresented among the State’s remaining job losses due to the early impact of the pandemic. Although the minimum wage workers’ share is likely to rise as the low-wage sector recovery proceeds, the size of the minimum wage workforce is likely to continue to be constrained by a rise in entry-level wages as firms compete for workers.
• New York is experiencing a job gap of 351,000 relative to its pre-pandemic peak. Anecdotal evidence combined with alternative data sources argue that labor shortages could account for much of New York’s remaining job gap, particularly Upstate.
• Like the rest of the nation, the New York labor market is expected to continue to slow in the coming months. Because of the importance of financial markets to the State economy, the Federal Reserve’s apparent shift to aggressively battling inflation will have a disproportional impact in New York. As a result, State employment growth is projected to slow from 4.3 percent in 2022 to 0.8 percent in 2023. State employment is not expected to reach its pre-pandemic level until 2026.

GENERAL MINIMUM WAGE RATE SCHEDULE

CONSUMER ALERT: New York State Division of Consumer Protection Offers Tips for Keeping Babies Safe at Home and On the Go During Baby Safety Month

 

New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) Creates an Important Baby Safety Checklist for Baby Safety Month

Part 2: Provide A Safe Environment for Babies

Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez says, “We can do a lot to avoid common injuries and it’s important to know prevention tips during these first critical months of a child’s life.”

 In recognition of Baby Safety Month, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is providing a Baby Safety Checklist to help parents maintain a safe environment for their little ones. In the first alert, DCP called attention to the importance of monitoring product recalls here. In part two of the series, DCP is providing baby-proof safety measures and tips to help parents keep babies out of harm's way from birth through their toddler years.

“The first year of a baby’s life is packed with milestones that are both exciting and sometimes overwhelming,” said New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection.  “The Baby Safety Checklist provides an overview of safety tips to help parents maintain a safe environment for babies. As parents, we can do a lot to avoid common injuries and it’s important to know prevention tips during these first critical months of a child’s life.”

The DCP Baby Safety Checklist is packed with tips on how to keep baby safe while sleeping, feeding, on the go or around the house. There are many potential hazards for babies, but parents can keep their child safe by finding out what the risks are, and then preventing or removing them.  

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.