DEC Backcountry Trails Advisory in Effect as Adirondacks Storm Damage Assessment Continues

 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) issued a backcountry advisory for the Adirondacks as DEC continues to evaluate storm impacts that could affect public safety. DEC is assessing roads and State facilities in the region damaged by flooding and other storm impacts.

DEC staff have completed many repairs and debris clearing at State facilities, but visitors should be prepared for minor inconveniences while repairs continue. Many backcountry trails throughout the Adirondacks were damaged by recent storms, including washed out bridges and downed trees, creating unsafe hiking conditions. Hikers should be prepared to encounter blowdown and minor flooding in the backcountry and are encouraged to plan for alternate routes or turn around if necessary.

DEC encourages the public to contact local agencies and DEC before visiting. Please report any backcountry damage to DEC’s Region 5 office at R5.Info@dec.ny.gov. For a list of current trail conditions and closures, visit DEC’s Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR FATAL STABBING

 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced 20 years to life in prison for first-degree Manslaughter for fatally stabbing an acquaintance. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant viciously stabbed a 23-year-old man. He has been held accountable and will spend many years in prison.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Johnnie Vickers, 42, of Cruger Avenue, the Bronx was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey M. Zimmerman to 20 years to life in prison. The defendant was found guilty by a jury on April 19, 2024, of first-degree Manslaughter. 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Johnnie Vickers, 42, of Cruger Avenue, the Bronx was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey M. Zimmerman to 20 years to life in prison. The defendant was found guilty by a jury on April 19, 2024, of first-degree Manslaughter.

District Attorney Clark thanked the Homicide Bureau professional staff, Joao D’Allessandro, Supervisor of the BXDA Video Unit, and Video Technician Joseph Martinez for their assistance with the case. District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Sasha Brugal of the Bronx Homicide Squad and NYPD Detective Robin Martinez of the 49 th Precinct for their work on this case. 

Governor Hochul Awards More Than $70 Million Through ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program to Connect More Than 25,000 Homes and Businesses to High-Speed Broadband

 

Awards in Central New York, Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and North Country Regions Will Fund Construction of More Than 800 Miles of Public Broadband Infrastructure

Part of $228 Million Federal Investment To Build Last-Mile Broadband Infrastructure Across New York State

Builds on Governor Hochul’s $1 Billion ConnectALL Program to Expand Affordable, Reliable Broadband Access for All New Yorkers

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $70 million in awards through ConnectALL’s Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program as part of a $228 million federal investment to help connect New Yorkers to high-speed broadband internet. The projects include multimillion-dollar commitments to transform public broadband infrastructure in the Central New York, Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and North Country regions, offering symmetric service options – where the download and upload speeds are the same – at price points below local averages. Together, the projects will result in the construction of more than 800 miles of public broadband infrastructure and connect more than 25,000 homes and businesses.

“These awards mark the next step in our billion-dollar effort to close New York’s digital divide,” Governor Hochul said. “Thanks to our historic ConnectALL initiative and support from the Biden administration and New York’s congressional delegation, we are funding projects from Syracuse to Franklin County to strengthen our broadband infrastructure and bring affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to more than 25,000 New York families.”

Funding for ConnectALL’s Municipal Infrastructure Program has been awarded through the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund. Broadband infrastructure in the Municipal Infrastructure Program will be owned by a public entity or publicly controlled and Internet Service Providers will use the new broadband infrastructure to provide New Yorkers with affordable, high quality service options.

The first round of awardees includes:

• City of Syracuse (Central New York) – $10.8 million: The City of Syracuse is expanding its award-winning Surge Link internet service network to over 13,000 locations in five city neighborhoods - Valley, Skunk City, Washington Square, Northside, Near Northeast. The fixed wireless municipal broadband solution currently serves over 8,700 homes in three neighborhoods. In total, the expanded network will reach the area of the City that experiences the highest rates of poverty and unemployment and lowest educational attainment when compared across the city or county as a whole. The city will build, own, operate, and maintain 20 miles of new fiber optic infrastructure serving 10 fixed wireless hubs, and partner with the Community Broadband Networks Syracuse Municipal, LLC to install, operate, and maintain the fixed wireless network, connect customers, and provide 24/7 customer support. Under the ConnectALL program, Surge Link will offer broadband service for $14.99 per month to low-income households and symmetric 100 Mbps service for $36.99. The city has also worked with the Syracuse Neighborhood Community Center Collaborative to launch the “Digital Empowerment Program” to support residents in the area.
• Livingston County (Finger Lakes) – $26.5 million: Livingston County will build on its existing public-private partnership with Empire Access to serve over 4,000 locations with high-speed service. This project will reach all known unserved locations in the County that are not already covered under other grant-funded projects, marking a major milestone for “Light Up Livingston,” the County’s initiative to provide access to high-speed, fiber-optic internet to every address in the county. Under the ConnectALL program, Livingston County will contract with Hunt EAS to construct an estimated 340 miles of fiber, 20% of which will be reserved for open-access use by other internet service providers.
• Franklin County and DANC (North Country) – $2.4 million: The Franklin County project will reach more than 1,600 homes and businesses, including many of the hardest to reach unserved locations in the County, navigating around natural wetlands, areas with no utility service, and areas that already have fiber optic infrastructure. Franklin County will work with the Development Authority of the North Country, which has two decades of experience managing public fiber optic infrastructure, to build 36 miles of open access fiber to the utility poles along the locations to be served. SLICFiber, a private internet service provider, will connect the homes and businesses and there is capacity in the network to support additional providers. The project will allow remote residents to access telehealth services and engage in remote work.
• Southern Tier Network (Southern Tier) – $18.2 million: Southern Tier Network will build out 223 miles, own and operate open-access fiber-to-the-home networks connecting over 4,200 homes and businesses in eight towns across Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tioga and Tompkins Counties. Southern Tier Network, a nonprofit governed by the counties in the Southern Tier Central Region, will add 223 miles of fiber optic infrastructure through the investment. The project service area faces challenges of extreme rural poverty, vulnerable aging populations, disproportionately high levels of households with a person with a disability. All the locations in the project service area will be receiving fiber optic connections and high-speed symmetric service options for the first time through the project. Following the model of the ConnectALL municipal infrastructure pilot project in the Town of Nichols, Southern Tier Network will partner with FiberSpark and other internet service providers on the network to deliver internet service at rates below the costs for service in the area, with the aim of increasing education, economic, and health outcomes and retaining population.
• Village and Town of Sherburne and Town of Columbus (Southern Tier) – $6.9 million:The Village of Sherburne, in partnership with the Village of Sherburne and Columbus, will connect over 500 locations across the two towns with an advanced, software-defined network that allows residents to choose among multiple internet service options. Building on its ConnectALL pilot project – Sherburne Connect and its longstanding capabilities as a municipal electric utility, the Village will connect the homes with a fiber optic line and the equipment and FiberSpark and FyberCom will provide the internet service, with more service providers able to add service on the network at no additional cost to the project or subscribers. The 65 miles of new fiber will increase the resilience and sustainability of the pilot network. The municipal internet service will help the towns address the economic, health, and educational needs of their residents.
• Towns of Dryden and Caroline (Southern Tier) – $8.9 million: The Town of Dryden and the Town of Caroline in Tompkins County are partnering to bring new public broadband service to over 2,600 locations. The Town of Dryden launched Dryden Fiber in 2023 and, under the ConnectALL program, Dryden Fiber will build and expand the network with 125 miles of fiber optic infrastructure to reach the underserved rural residents in the neighboring Town of Caroline. Both the Town of Caroline and the Town of Dryden will own the proposed infrastructure in their respective towns; Dryden Fiber will provide operations and maintenance of the network and provide internet service to homes and businesses for both towns.

The Municipal Infrastructure Program was based on ConnectALL’s Municipal Infrastructure pilot projects, which demonstrated the transformative benefit of publicly-owned, open access fiber optic networks. Open access networks can be used by multiple service providers, bringing consumer choice to underserved areas, and public ownership means broadband infrastructure is a basic utility available to all households in these communities. The pilot projects leveraged an initial $10 million investment from ConnectALL to fund municipal broadband projects in four upstate communities – the Village of Sherburne in Chenango County, the Town of Nichols in Tioga County, the Town of Diana in Lewis County, and the Town of Pitcairn in St. Lawrence County. All four projects have been completed, connecting more than 3,000 households to high-speed internet at prices below the regional average.

ConnectALL will announce additional rounds of Municipal Infrastructure Program funding in the coming months. For more information, visit the Municipal Infrastructure Program on the ConnectALL website.

Governor Hochul’s ConnectALL Initiative

Governor Hochul established the $1 billion ConnectALL Initiative – New York’s largest-ever investment in broadband access – to close the state’s digital divide, transform digital infrastructure, and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to reliable and affordable high-speed broadband internet service. To date, ConnectALL has overseen the successful launch and implementation of several programs to advance broadband access, including:

• The Digital Equity Program will invest $50 million to implement the New York State Digital Equity Plan to close the digital divide. The Plan outlines New York’s statewide strategy to increase its capacity to improve digital literacy and digital job readiness skills, facilitate access to affordable internet and devices, enhance digital privacy and safety, and make government services more accessible through the internet. The Plan and more about the Program is available here.
• The Affordable Housing Connectivity Program to bring new broadband infrastructure to homes in affordable and public housing leveraging a $100 million federal investment from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Projects Fund. The program is currently accepting applications from internet service providers and expressions of interest from housing owners and public housing authorities.
• The ConnectALL Deployment Program to fund internet service providers to reach unserved and underserved locations, drawing on an allocation of $664.6 million in federal funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, as described in the ConnectALL Broadband Deployment Initial Proposal and Five-Year Action Plan. ConnectALL conducted the challenge process to determine which locations in the state are eligible for this program.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES CITY HALL, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS TO BE LIT RED, YELLOW, WHITE, BLUE, AND GREEN TO HONOR DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that City Hall and several other municipal buildings will be lit red, yellow, white, blue, and green tonight in honor of Disability Pride Month, which celebrates the achievements and promotes the visibility and awareness of the disability community. Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to mark the passage of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed on July 26, 1990. This year marks the 34^th anniversary of the ADA.

 

“The signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act into law 34 years ago marked a monumental step forward for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we honor the spirit of the ADA and its profound impact on our society. Here in New York City, we are committed to building a city that is accessible, inclusive, and equitable for all. From fostering inclusive employment opportunities to improving infrastructure, we continue to break down barriers and create a city where everyone can thrive.”

“On this ADA anniversary, we honor the historic commitment and ongoing efforts of Mayor Adams, as well as all of our city agency partners and community stakeholders by investing in employment opportunities and a safe and accessible infrastructure to create an inclusive and equitable city for all,” said New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Christina Curry. “Lighting City Hall and other municipal buildings in honor of Disability Pride Month is a vibrant display that underscores New York City’s dedication to the disability community.”

“Talent is our city’s greatest asset, and on the 34^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, our city has never been better positioned to uplift and enhance the lives of New Yorkers with disabilities,” said New York City Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Abby Jo Sigal. “New York City has always been a shining beacon of hope, and, in the last year, we have doubled down on our commitments to ensure the disabled community has access to employment and economic opportunities that provide a living wage and dignity so they can pursue their dreams.”

In addition to City Hall, the following city buildings will be lit in the disability pride colors at sundown:

• Bronx County Courthouse: 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
• Brooklyn Borough Hall: 209 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
• The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building: 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007
• Queens Borough Hall: 120-55 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11424
• Staten Island Borough Hall: 10 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301

Borough President Mark Levine - Empowering Our Borough 🗽

 

Summer in Manhattan is a time for energy, growth, and opportunity, and my office is working hard to empower neighbors in every corner of Manhattan. From our youth to our seniors, from Inwood to Battery Park, we're fostering a stronger, more vibrant Manhattan together.

Here's how we've been working to make a difference this summer, and how you can join us.

Youth Summer Series: Free Fun and Exploration

Young people are the future of Manhattan, and we're thrilled to offer a summer event series specifically for those ages 16-24. In partnership with the Whitney Museum, Lincoln Center, Big Bus, The Intrepid, and more, we've curated a series of free screenings, museum visits, dance workshops, and unique experiences. Stay tuned to our social media channels for updates on all our upcoming events!

Manhattan Volunteer Corps: Make a Difference

Empowerment means taking action, and our Manhattan Volunteer Corps is always looking for passionate community members like you to support food pantries and community kitchens, coordinate giveaways, attend street fairs and much more. We meet every Monday from 12:30-2:30 PM at the David Dinkins Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street. Sign up on our website today and become a part of the change you want to see.

Manhattan Empowerment Series

The Manhattan Borough President's office is proud to present the "Manhattan Empowerment Series," a dynamic collection of informational workshops designed to empower and educate our community. These workshops cover a range of topics essential for personal and professional growth, civic engagement, and community building.

Our next workshop will take place on September 10 and will focus on housing rights and resources. Mark your calendars!

In case you missed it: Our last workshop on estate planning was a success! You can watch a recording of the workshop here. The workshop covers valuable topics like wills, trusts, healthcare proxies, and living wills. You can also find recordings of our past workshops on our YouTube channel.

Whether you are looking to enhance your skills, learn about local resources, or get involved in community initiatives, the Manhattan Empowerment Series offers something for everyone. Join us as we work together to build a stronger, more informed, and empowered Manhattan.

Mark

Have you visited Plaza33 yet?

If you want to see a living example of what happens when a street is transformed for pedestrians, look no further than the newly opened Plaza33 beside Penn Station. 

This vibrant public space features lush greenery, ample seating, and even a charming mini-library. Foodies will rejoice at the addition of a new Tacos No. 1 location, serving up some of the city's most acclaimed tacos. 

Take a virtual tour and then experience the lively atmosphere of Plaza33 in person!

Live in Manhattan for Less than $500 (No, really!)

A new affordable housing lottery has just opened on Manhattan's Lower East Side, featuring spacious units with stunning views.  We got an exclusive tour of the building, and the demand is expected to be high, highlighting the urgent need for affordable housing in our borough.  Applications are open through August 28 through the NYC Housing Connect website.

Apply by August 28

Erik Cuello: BP Levine's New Director of Community Affairs

Our office is excited to announce Erik Cuello as our new Director of Community Affairs! Erik joined Team Levine in 2016 as the Housing and Community Specialist for then-Council Member Levine, responsible for community engagement, tenant advocacy, and more.  He now oversees Manhattan’s 12 community boards – including the hundreds of annual member appointments – and the BP’s dynamic team of community liaisons.  When not crisscrossing the borough to get to NYCHA family days, events for all the community boards, and myriad projects across Manhattan, Erik spends time with his family and cheering on the Yankees.

Walk with BP Levine at these upcoming parades: 

August 11 – National Dominican Day Parade 
September 15 – African American Day Parade 

Reach out to events@manhattanbp.nyc.gov for registration and more details. 

Manhattan Community Award Program and Manhattan Composting Initiative Grants

Applications for the Manhattan Community Award Program (MCAP) and the Manhattan Community Initiative (MCI) are now open through August 30 at 5 pm. Please note these are small dollar expense grants (ranging from $3,500-$10,000) for Manhattan-based organizations focusing on seniors, youth, the arts, composting and composting education, recreational programming, and education.

Apply here by August 30 at 5pm. For any questions, contact Nelson Andino at nandino@manhattanbp.nyc.gov or Maytee Cariño at mcarino@manhattanbp.nyc.gov.

Apply by August 30

Everything is free! Stop by our Uptown Wagon Free Store on September 20

Follow us! Keep up with BP Mark Levine:

Upcoming Events, Legislative News,  Grant Opportunities, & More

(Friday) Extra, Extra Click here for this week's video: Chamber President Lisa Sorin and the team are back with your Bronx business and community updates! - Intro 991 - Licensing Hotels bill and City Council hearing next Tues. 7/30 (*details and important links below in Legislative Updates section)  Lisa's vision for the AI-themed 2024 Bronx Chamber Gala and our one-of-a-kind emcee - Alexis showcases her bocce skills in anticipation of the Bronx Chamber Summer BBQ on 8/1 - Happy Anniversary to the Mall at Bay Plaza

Summer Hours: The Bronx Chamber office is on a 4-day schedule, closed every Friday through 8/30/24

LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY UPDATES

Below is a recently-introduced piece of legislation of interest to our Bronx business community pertaining to Hotel Licensing: Intro 991, sponsored by Council Member Julie Menin: This bill would require hotels to obtain a license in order to operate their business in the City. The application term would be one year, and there would be an annual fee of $200. Large hotels would be required to maintain continuous front desk coverage and have at least one security guard. All hotels would be required to maintain the cleanliness of each guest room. The licensee would be required to directly employ all core and critical employees, who would be subject to safety trainings. The department of consumer and worker protection could refuse to issue or renew a license, or suspend or revoke a license if the hotel violates the conditions of the license. Hotels that violate the license conditions would be subject to civil penalties. (Committee: Consumer & Worker Protection) Co-sponsoring Council Members: Crystal Hudson, Carmen De La Rosa, Shaun Abreu, Oswald Feliz, Julie Won, Chris Banks, Lynn Schulman, Shekar Krishnan, Linda Lee, Jennifer Gutierrez, Francisco Moya, Justin Brannan, James Gennaro, Nantasha Williams, Sandra Ung, Chi Osse, Susan Zhuang, Rita Joseph, Keith Powers, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Erik Bottcher, Alexa Aviles, Lincoln Restler, Chris Marte, Joann Ariola  Our concerns regarding impact on hotels in the Bronx: As this bill stands now it will increase costs for hotels, and in turn make it more expensive for the consumer. In addition, revoking a potential license for a hotel based on an outage of wi-fi or an elevator is not reasonable, and we stand to lose any potential development of new hotels in our borough.  Learn More About Potential Impacts Here We encourage all Bronx businesses who may be impacted by this legislation to contact your representatives to express concerns about Int 991 - CLICK HERE for a list of City Council Representatives and their contact information The Bronx Chamber of Commerce will be testifying in person in front of the NYC Council at the Consumer and Worker Protection hearing scheduled for this coming Tuesday, July 30th at 10:00AM. Be sure to visit our website Advocacy page for weekly Bronx Business Legislative Updates

REMINDER: Dining Out NYC Deadline is August 3 Food service establishments (FSEs) currently participating in the temporary outdoor dining program must apply to the Dining Out NYC program by August 3, 2024, to continue operating their current temporary outdoor dining setup. If an FSE has not submitted a Dining Out NYC application by the deadline, they must remove their current temporary outdoor dining setup at their sole cost and expense. Both sidewalk and roadway cafes require a license and revocable consent from NYC DOT. The revocable consent and license will each have a four-year term. Learn more: The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) will be hosting an online Q&A session this coming Monday, July 29 at 12:30pm. Register here.

NYC Charter Review Commission Final Report Click here to view the press release from the Mayor’s office announcing the final report from the 2024 New York City Charter Review Commission.   The report presents five ballot proposals related to cleaner streets, fiscal responsibility, public safety, capital planning, minority-and women-owned businesses, and modernization of city policies related to film permitting and archival review.    The Commission voted to adopt the report’s ballot proposals at a final public meeting yesterday, July 25.

BRONX CHAMBER 2024 GALA

Gala Registration Is Now Open Our annual gala is 7 weeks away! Sponsorship and VIP opportunities, tickets, tables, and more are now available ICYMI: Click here for a special announcement from SOPHIA - our never-before-seen Master of Ceremonies - who will join us to demystify AI and showcase its many possibilities to evolve commerce in our borough, as celebrate this year's Honorees:   DJ Ambulette, Business of the Year   Monroe College, Community Organization of the Year   Lemle & Wolff Companies, Developer of the Year   Amazon, recipient of the Joseph P. Kelleher Excellence Award Thursday, September 19, 2024 Marina Del Rey, Bronx, NY 6:30 - 11:00pm Last year’s sold-out gala brought together over 600 executives, community leaders & supporters to celebrate our Honorees - and this year's theme is not to be missed! Anything Is possible… Sincere thanks to our first round of Sponsors (list in formation):   Bronx Champions: Amazon, DJ Ambulette, Monroe College, Lemle & Wolff Companies   Bronx Partner: DoorDash   Bronx Supporters: Affinity by Molina Healthcare, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts

LEARN HOW TO BECOME PART OF OUR GALA

UPCOMING BRONX CHAMBER SUMMER 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. Join us for delicious food and drinks*, serene views, lawn games for a little friendly competition, a live DJ and dancing, and facilitated networking with the Bronx Chamber team to build new Bronx business & community connections. Your next great deal could follow a dance-off, high-energy round of our famous Chamber speed networking, or a spirited game of cornhole! *Ticket pricing includes complimentary beer, wine, sparkling wine and soft drinks, as well as a hearty buffet & pig roast

CLICK HERE FOR BBQ TICKETS

Bronx GameChangers Night With Special Guest Jim "The King" Leyritz! Friday, August 9 at 7:05pm Yankee Stadium $250/Members • $300/Non-Members This is your chance to meet a Yankee legend! Join us for an exclusive Bronx experience and prime networking as the New York Yankees take on the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers Friday, August 9! (Suite opens at 6:30pm, game time is 7:05) Enjoy the game in climate-controlled comfort from an all-inclusive luxury suite with private stadium entrance - your ticket includes an open bar, dinner, a great view of the diamond, and - a special Meet & Greet with World Series Champion Jim Leyritz! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with Bronx business and community leaders, partners and supporters working to make our borough thrive. *ACT FAST - SPACE IS VERY LIMITED*

GET YOUR SUITE TICKETS HERE

CHAMBER NEWS MEMBER & PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES

Celebrate the 1-Year Anniversary of Bronx Chamber Member Mind-Body-Hair Salon tomorrow, July 27 from 11:00am - 5:00pm! This event is open to the community and dedicated to honoring and embracing natural hair. Enjoy light food, refreshments, lively music and raffles with friends and colleagues, and be part of the special ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Bronx Chamber! RSVP HERE Avenue NYC Program Graduation Our Outreach Manager Darry Saldana represented the Bronx Chamber at last week's Avenue NYC graduation, showcasing of our accomplishments in the Mott Haven commercial corridor as stewards of a 3-year Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization grant. It was an honor to join our fellow grantees from across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan for this celebration of our hard work! Attention Bronx Small Businesses: Hire CUNY Alumni! Take Action Before August 23 Internship to Employment provides opportunities for recent CUNY grads to intern for 12 weeks with NYC small businesses, with the aim of converting the internships into employment.  CUNY Provides: Recruiting qualified CUNY graduates for your business; 12 weeks of paid internship; support of CUNY I2E staff who are responsible for intern recruitment; program management; intern payroll; wage reimbursement for up to $10/hour for 35 hours per week for the 16 weeks following the internship; rofessional development workshops during both the internship and employment periods CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND START THE HIRING PROCESS Support Local Restaurants ICYMI: It's NYC Summer Restaurant Week! 2-course lunches and 3-course dinners at $30, $45 and $60. NYC Restaurant Week runs through August 18 (with some restaurants offering their menus through September 1) CLICK TO BOOK AT A PARTICIPATING BRONX RESTAURANT

 

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 to help your small business put its best foot forward. 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 Free Recruitment Services For Businesses NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) can help you hire the right employees at no cost. Their pool of 100,000+ candidates contains qualified individuals in industries like food services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, transportation, and warehousing. Free services include:    Sourcing job seekers   Recruiting and screening candidates based on your needs, referring the most qualified   Scheduling interviews to help you save time and focus on your core business NYC Small Business Emergency Preparedness Assessments & 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 To Get Started: complete and submit this online form.  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!