Saturday, April 9, 2022

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, covering:

NYS Budget Updates
BxCC Legislative Committee activity
Upcoming Event Highlights
and much more!

Hello Alice - Grant Opportunity
What would a $5,000 grant mean for your small business? The Small Business Growth Fund is now accepting applications until May 20, 2022, at 6 p.m. ET., providing the capital entrepreneurs need to make their next big move. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 grant to accelerate their growth.

Eligible businesses must:
  • Be a for-profit business
  • Have less than $1M in 2021 gross annual revenue
  • Have a commitment to their customers and community
  • Have a clear plan for use of funds

Intern for the Yankees! Apply by 4/15
Attention Bronx Chamber member colleges and universities, nonprofits, and other organizations working with Bronx college students:

The New York Yankees Summer Internship Program is designed for college students and recent graduates who are interested in gaining experience and learning about the business and baseball side of one of the most storied franchises in professional sports. It is an eight (8) week (30 hours/week) in-person program incorporating work responsibilities and networking opportunities.

Interested individuals in applying for a PAID internship should email their resume and cover letter to careers@yankees.com. When applying, please include your area(s) of interest in your cover letter. Resumes will be accepted through Friday, April 15th.
New York State Budget Updates
On Thursday April 7, Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced an agreement on the $220B Fiscal Year 2023 New York State budget, Governor Hochul said, "As we make our comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic we are embracing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to usher in a whole new era for New York, with a bold budget that brings much-needed economic relief to New Yorkers and looks to the future with historic investments in education, health care and infrastructure."

The budget will include several key priorities, including Bail Reform and public safety modifications, supported by the Bronx Chamber and the 5 Borough Chamber Alliance.

Chamber Advocacy: NYC Council Public Hearing Testimony
On Monday April 4, the Bronx Chamber's colleagues at the NYC Small Business Resource Network submitted testimony to the City Council Committee on Contracts, Committee on Small Business, and the Subcommittee on COVID Recovery and Resiliency regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Minority and Women-Owned Businesses (M/WBE's) and Int. 14-2022 - A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to including the most recent data available in the citywide M/WBE disparity study.

The testimony called for ongoing support for M/WBE's through outreach programs (such as those administered by, and in partnership with, the Bronx Chamber), with an emphasis on helping these businesses create and implement digital tools to stay competitive in an evolving marketplace, as well as: the need for improved public safety in commercial corridors; lease and tax assistance; and HR compliance. Click here to read the full testimony submission.
Don't Miss Our Upcoming Events!
Wednesday April 13 9:00am
Your Financial Journey Workshop
Part of our BxCC How to Get Bankable Series

Join the Bronx Chamber and Yesenia Quinones, Bronx Community Manager for JPM Chase, for a free online workshop that will guide you through your financial journey with an in-depth discussion on savings and budgeting.

Thursday April 14 9:00am
Learn About College Tuition Savings with Monroe College

Want to save 20% on Tuition for your Associate, Bachelor's, or Master's Degree? This webinar will give you an overview of the Monroe College admissions process for adult learners who are interested in earning their degree, and students who are interested in transferring to Monroe. Chamber Members get an exclusive discount on tuition. Get more details.
Thursday April 21 8:00am
Schiff Family Great Hall at the Bronx Zoo

Earth Day Networking Breakfast
Member Tickets: $20 Future Members: $25

Celebrate Earth Day while making new connections at the world-renowned Bronx Zoo Schiff Family Great Hall! (If you will be traveling by car and require parking, please use the lot at 2300 Southern Blvd.)
Tuesday April 26 5:00pm
Hutchinson Metro Conference Center, 1200 Waters Place South Entrance

The Bronx Means Business With BronxNet TV!
Get expert guidance from Michael Max Knobbe, Gary Axelbank, & the BronxNet team at this in-person, interactive Media Training workshop


Learn how to:
  • Develop your business' story and refine your Elevator Pitch
  • Connect with the media and pitch your story
  • Look and sound your best on camera/in a print interview: hands-on guidance regarding message delivery, tone and control (what to do, and what not to do!)

Thursday, April 28 at 9:00am
Free Virtual Small Business Expo
We invite Bronx small businesses with e-commerce presence to share their stories & promote their products/services. Those interested in supporting (or even starting) a small business are also welcome!

Join us to:
  • Increase brand awareness & visibility for small businesses in the Bronx
  • Get insight & resources to sell online
  • Get information on health insurance for employees of small businesses


Email events@bronxhamber.org for more information & to showcase your e-comm business at the event
Services provided by HealthPlus HP, LLC a licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.
Travel to Egypt With The Chamber - Info Session Replay
If you want to travel to Egypt with the Bronx Chamber this coming Fall, check out this replay!

Representatives from Aventura World presented a virtual Information Session to learn about an exclusive Early Bird deal for the Bronx Chamber Community. Access the full travel packet here, and click HERE to view the replay of our 4/5 Zoom to get some of your pressing questions answered!


Friday, April 8, 2022

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19

 Clinical specimen testing for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at Wadsworth Laboratory

With Spring Holidays Ahead, Remember our Toolkit - Vaccines, Boosters, and Testing 

5 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday  


 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.  

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity. 

"With warm weather and the Spring holidays approaching, make sure you take every precaution necessary to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy before you travel or gather together," Governor Hochul said. "Take a test before you travel, stay home if you feel unwell, and if you have yet to do so, take advantage of the benefits of the vaccine. Get your first dose, your second dose, your booster, and your second booster if you're eligible. The vaccine is safe, effective, free, and accessible."  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

  • Cases Per 100k - 30.21
  • 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 21.15 
  • Test Results Reported - 143,656
  • Total Positive - 5,904
  • Percent Positive - 4.06% **
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.55% **
  • Patient Hospitalization - 994 (+46)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 197  
  • Patients in ICU - 128 (+1)
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 61 (+5) 
  • Total Discharges - 291,835 (+156)
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 5
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,199  

* These figures include at-home tests which Onondaga County, unlike other counties, has provided in their daily reporting to the New York State Department of Health. Future reporting from Onondaga County will not include home test data to ensure alignment and consistency with other counties.

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.    

  • Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 70,380 

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.      

  • Total vaccine doses administered - 37,701,261  
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 38,385
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 223,257  
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.1%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.5%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0% 
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 86.3%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.6%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.7%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.6%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.9%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.7%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.4%
Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:         

Borough  

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 

Thursday, April 7, 2022 

Bronx 

1.24% 

1.27% 

1.32% 

Kings 

2.14% 

2.26% 

2.43% 

New York 

3.41% 

3.46% 

3.66% 

Queens 

2.13% 

2.17% 

2.18% 

Richmond 

2.28% 

2.19% 

2.05%