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: President Lisa Sorin is back with featured guests this week, filmed on-site at our fun, funky and fabulous Art of Networking event! Tune in for MTA and Bronx Metro-North updates, a message from our Chairman's Circle member Casita Maria who graciously hosted last night's event, and your Chamber Summer Events lineup!

Summer Hours Notice: Beginning next week, the Bronx Chamber office will be on a four-day schedule, closed every Friday from July 5 through August 30, 2024

LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND PUBLIC RFP NOTICE

Bronx Request for Proposals Alert For the Development, Operation, and Maintenance of a Restaurant, Snack Bar, and Merchandise Concessions at the Orchard Beach Pavilion, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx (Solicitation #: X39-SB-R-2024) There will be a recommended proposer meeting this coming Monday, July 1, 2024 at 10:00 am. If you are considering responding to this RFP, please make every effort to attend this recommended proposer meeting. As the site is under active construction and closed to the public, we ask that interested proposers meet at the proposed concession site on July 1 (Block #5650 & Lot #1), which is located at the Orchard Beach Pavilion (enter at Construction Gate A, located at the south east corner of the parking lot) at 10:00am. All proposals must be submitted no later than Monday, July 29, 2024 at 3:00pm Click here to start the process

City Planning Commission Approves Bronx Metro North Station Area Plan  This Wednesday, June 26, 2024, NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) Director and City Planning Commission (CPC) Chair Dan Garodnick announced the CPC's vote in favor of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, a once-in-a-lifetime plan to complement new Metro-North stations coming to Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, Hunts Point, and Co-op City by creating nearly 7,500 homes, including permanently income-restricted housing, and 10,000 jobs. The vote follows favorable recommendations on the plan from Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, the Bronx Borough Board, and Bronx Community Boards 9 and 11, as well as the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. President Lisa Sorin said, "Today marks a pivotal moment for the Bronx as we celebrate the approval of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, a transformative initiative promising thousands of new jobs. The Bronx Chamber is thrilled to witness this commitment to enhancing our borough’s infrastructure, commercial corridors, and community resources. The new Metro-North stations will not only improve transit access but also invigorate local economies, creating vibrant neighborhoods where residents and businesses alike can thrive. We commend the City Planning Commission and all stakeholders for their dedication to making this visionary plan a reality, ensuring a brighter future for Bronx residents.” Read the full press release from the NYC Department of City Planning here

Updates from the June 26 MTA Full Board Meeting The MTA Board voted on June 26, 2024 to defer implementation of the state's congestion pricing program for Manhattan until all parties agreed to move forward. In this week's Friday Extra video, Bronx Chamber President Lisa Sorin, a Board member of the MTA, discusses this update in more detail.

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR ANNUAL GALA

SAVE THE DATE! Our annual gala is less than 3 months away and we’re gearing up for a transformative evening where Anything Is possible… Thursday, September 19, 2024 Marina Del Rey, Bronx, NY 6:00 - 11:00pm Last year’s sold-out gala brought together nearly 600 top executives, community leaders & supporters from the Bronx and the city & state at large, and we’re looking to shatter that record in 2024! Registration info including tickets, tables, and sponsorship opportunities coming soon - stay tuned

IN THE COMMUNITY - MEMBER NEWS

This week, the Chamber hosted another high energy mixer with a creative new approach to networking, in the beautiful community art gallery of Chairman's Circle member Casita Maria. Guests from a variety of sectors including the arts, building maintenance, education, community organizations & many more enjoyed refreshments from our member Empanadas RD while discussing the works of Bronx artist Alexis Marie Montoya (currently on display in the Gallery) as related to their careers and experience - an inspiring way to make new connections!

CHEERS TO OUR MEMBERS' ACHIEVEMENTS! This week, Bronx Chamber member University of Mount Saint Vincent was named as a College of Distinction for its 70 nationally recognized degree programs and course offerings, including majors and minors in the sciences and mathematics, humanities and the arts, social sciences, accounting, business, communication, education, and nursing, among others.  One of our Bronx Chamber Board members who also represents the higher education sector, Scorpio Rogers of Mercy University, was named this week as a 2024 Higher Education Trailblazer by City & State NY. We would also like to congratulate Javier Medina, Executive Director of the Southern Boulevard Business Improvement District, who graduated from the CORO New York Leadership Program this week!

UPCOMING BRONX CHAMBER EVENTS

Bronx Chamber Summer BBQ Thursday, August 1 6:00 - 9:00pm Pelham Split Rock Golf Course Member Pricing: $70/ticket Non-Member Tickets: $80/ea. Our annual summer soiree is coming up soon! Celebrate best of the season with the Bronx Chamber network - enjoy delicious cuisine, drinks, sweeping views and more while making new connections al fresco! REGISTER HERE

* SAVE THE DATE * Friday, August 9, 2024 Bronx GameChangers Night Yankee Stadium Enjoy an all-inclusive luxury suite, private stadium entrance, open bar, dinner, and a great view while making new connections with Bronx business & community leaders working to make our borough thrive!  Registration information coming soon

PARTNER EVENTS

Coming Up: Rock The Block! July 17, 2024 11:00 am - 3:00 pm 1377 Jerome Avenue  Bronx, NY 10452 Brought to the community with support from the office of NYC Council Member Althea Stevens and in partnership with the NYC Department of Small Business Services, this event brings together city agency supports for neighborhood small businesses while engaging Bronx  youth in a festive summer block party setting, in support of local business & workforce development initiatives! Advance Registration is Required for this FREE Event: Click Here

DIGITAL TOOLS FOR GROWTH

OPEN + ONLINE Applications are still open for Bronx businesses to sign up for the popular Open + Online program through the NYC Small Business Resource Network! It's crucial that your small business has a strong online presence to compete in today's marketplace. The Open + Online program offers FREE website building, logo & branding design, or expert SEO (search engine optimization) consulting.  APPLY HERE    WEBSITE UPDATES: CITY & STATE LEGISLATION Check out the latest Bronx Chamber website updates for city and state legislation policy news impacting your business, plus events, resources and much more. To visit our website, Click Here FUNDING, CERTIFICATION, & OTHER RESOURCES Dining Out NYC Did You Know? NYC Restaurants need to complete their applications for Outdoor Dining by August 3. Visit the official site for complete details NYC Small Business Services Emergency Preparedness Assessments and Grants Your small business or commercial property may be eligible for a free on-site, one-on-one risk assessment. A team of experts will come to your business to: Review your physical space, operations, and insurance coverage Provide a custom report to prepare your business for future disruptions After the assessment, you may receive a grant of up to $5,000 to buy recommended resiliency equipment, such as flood barriers, generators, and fireproof storage containers. Program participants can receive a grant of up to $5,000 to cover the costs of recommended measures or certain types of resiliency equipment such as portable flood barriers, generators, and fire-proof storage containers. Application Priority Deadline: Business PREP Risk Assessment and Grant Program will be prioritizing applicants whose annual revenue does not exceed $17 million until July 26, 2024. Awardees will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the order in which applicants have submitted a complete application. APPLY HERE NYC Summer Restaurant Week will run from: July 22 - August 18 Attention Bronx Eateries: Don't Miss Out It's not too late! Late Registration is still available: Click here for complete details from NYC Tourism Questions: Email nycrestweek@nyctourism.com NYC Funds Finder NYC's Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and Next Street are offering a user-friendly platform, NYC Funds Finder, where small businesses can review funding options, including loans and grants, and request free 1-on-1 financing assistance from the SBS team.  NYC Funds Finder is a partnership between SBS and Next Street and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. Next Street Scale, the platform that powers NYC Funds Finder, was created to address the hurdles that small businesses, especially those run by women and minorities, face in accessing the resources required to grow their business and build wealth.  M/WBE Certification Unlocking Opportunities The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with NYC SBS to help guide you through the application process of getting certified as a Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE). This certification program, offered by NYC Small Business Services, is a critical initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in government contracting and procurement processes. The program seeks to create opportunities for businesses owned and operated by minority individuals and women, ensuring they have fair access to government contracts and economic opportunities, opens your business up to increased opportunities from New York City agencies, free advertising in the NYC Online Directory of Certified Businesses, mentorship programs and workshops, networking events, and more. The City has committed to awarding $16 billion in contracts to M/WBE certified organizations over the next decade--don’t miss out! Are you eligible? (Qualification checklist below) Business is legally authorized to transact business in New York City Business has been in operation for at least one year Business is more than 51% minority and/or woman owned If you are interested in applying, or for more information on M/WBE certification, contact Chanel Perez at Programs@bronxchamber.org 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!

City Planning Commission Approves Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan

 

The New York City Planning Commission recently voted in favor of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, which aims to bring nearly 7,500 new homes, including 1,900 permanently income-restricted units, and 10,000 jobs to areas around four new Metro-North stations coming to the East Bronx neighborhoods of Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, Hunts Point, and Co-op City. The new Metro-North stations, expected to open in 2027, are planned to connect East Bronx residents to opportunities across the borough and region while reducing car usage.

The approved plan encompasses several components to transform the surrounding neighborhoods of the new stations. It will allow for residential development in sections of Parkchester/Van Nest that are currently restricted to commercial and manufacturing uses, while also increasing permitted residential density in parts of Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park. Additionally, the plan will strengthen commercial corridors and support major institutions, such as hospitals, to stimulate job growth in the area.

Beyond that, the plan explores the possibility of establishing a new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) high school, and includes infrastructure and public space improvements around the new stations.

“The Bronx Metro-North Station plan represents another crucial investment for The Bronx and the creation of vibrant community neighborhood space,” said New York City parks commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Accessible public spaces strengthen the social fabric of neighborhoods, and this ambitious plan will expand public space access for Bronx residents while connecting them with thousands of great jobs, public transit, and affordable housing. The Adams administration continues to provide opportunities and make investments that will benefit The Bronx and New York City for generations to come, making our communities more livable, accessible, and equitable.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This plan is too large and will just lead to more problems while it destroys the communities of Van Nest and Morris Park. 

Permits Filed For 2324 Webster Avenue In Belmont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an eight-story mixed-use building at 2324 Webster Avenue in Belmont, The Bronx. Located between East 184th Street and East 187th Street, the lot is near the 182nd-183rd Streets subway station, served by the B and D trains. Darwin Torres is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 32,325 square feet, with 27,205 square feet designated for residential space and 5,120 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 40 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 680 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar, rooftop terrace, a 38-foot-long side yard, 12 open parking spaces, and 12 enclosed parking spaces.

Becall Engineering Services Inc. is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.