Local Chamber/BID Events & Happenings

Caption: The LIC Business Improvement District’s Annual Meeting on October 1 at MoMA PS1. This BID honored Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, BID-expansion steering-committee co-chairs Gianna Cerbone-Teoli, Dr. Angelo Ippolito and Paula Kirby, Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. Flanking the honorees are BID Chair David Brause, LIC Partnership Chair Gary Kesner, LIC Partnership President Elizabeth Lusskin and BID Secretary Gretchen Werwaiss.

 

82nd Street Partnership
37-06 82nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Executive Director: Leslie Ramos
718.335.9421
82ndstreet.org
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $224,000 with more than 200 businesses under its umbrella. The district is on 82nd Street from 37th Avenue to Baxter Avenue. The board meets quarterly with the annual meeting in June.
• Nov. 9th, 5 to 7 p.m.
Business Center for New Americans FREE Workshop: How To Raise Money for Your Business and Understanding Credit
BNB Bank, 35-02 Broadway, Astoria
Topics include lending requirements, financing options, 5 C’s of lending, best practices to get approved, understanding your credit report and score, disputing errors on your credit report, and improving your credit.
• Saturdays in November, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Paddle for the Cure’s Weekly Saturday Practice
World’s Fair Marina (next to Citifield)
Experience paddling on a dragon boat with breast cancer survivors and supporters
Sponsored by NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
• Mondays in November, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free Immigration Services in Queens
71-29 Roosevelt Ave., Jackson Heights
All Services are free, confidential and open to any member of the community.

Bayside Village BID
213-33 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361
Interim Executive Director: James Ellis
718.423.2434
[email protected]
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $218,000 and over 350 members.
Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.

Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 751123, Forest Hills, NY 11375
President: Leslie Brown
718.268.6565
[email protected]
[email protected]
QUICK GLANCE: Re-formed in 1995, the group has over 225 members.
Chamber meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, in Forest Hills.The chamber is currently planning a new event, the “Forest Hills American Music Festival,” an all-day event highlighting American music from jazz to country. Forest Hills has a rich history in music tied to the concerts at the Forest Hills Stadium going back to the 1960’s. The Chamber will hold its Celebrate Winter event on November 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., free family-friendly event to kick off the holiday season. Enjoy live music and entertainment outside under the tent, food tastings and Starbucks goodie bags, as well as selfies with the Forest Hills reindeer.

Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce
135-32 38th Ave., Suite 25, Flushing NY 11354
Executive Director: John Choe
[email protected]
646.783.8985
flushingchamber.nyc
QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and representing over 200 businesses.
The poster child for hyper-local chambers around the city, GFCC created the Night Market, a lending circle for businesses, and is paving a new path forward for Flushing’s growing population of new immigrants.
• November 14, 6 to 8 p.m.
Free Marketing Workshop: Advanced Strategies in Social Media
Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce
135-32 38th Avenue, Flushing
Free
How can you use the latest technology to increase your brand and promote your business? This workshop outlines advanced strategies in social media and the latest tools and resources that can help you increase awareness of your products and services. This is a free workshop offered by the Flushing Chamber as part of our Flushing Fantastic district marketing campaign.

Greater Jamaica Development Corporation
90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432
President: Hope Knight
718.291.0282
www.gjdc.org
QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1967, the group has 75 members.
GJDC’s work expands economic opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable metropolitan growth. GJDC is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gala at The Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park on November 30 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation – Woodhaven BID
84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421
Executive Director: Maria Thomson
718.805.0202
[email protected]
woodhavenbid.com
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with more than 350 businesses under its umbrella.
On Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street, the BID features six supermarkets. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans. The BID will host its annual Christmas Tree/Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue on December 1 at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, December 2, at noon it will host the “Welcome Santa to Woodhaven” parade, which begins at 96th Street and Jamaica Avenue. A ceremony immediately following at Franklin K. Lane High School with include free pizza and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will also be free pictures with Santa at Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue the next two Saturdays until 4 p.m.

Jamaica Center BID
90-50 Parsons Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11432
Executive Director: Rhonda Binda
718.526.2422
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of over $1 million.
Founded in 1979, the district is on Jamaica Ave. between 170th St. and Sutphin Blvd. for the purposes of having the local business get together and make a thriving  business hub and enjoyable destination. They offer a “value card” for discounts at stores and have employment services, as well as sanitation services.

JFK International Airport Chamber of Commerce
616 Duke Street, Westbury, NY 11590
Executive Director: Mercedes Altman
516.492.0513
www.jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org
QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has over 200 members.
• November 8, 8:30 to 10 a.m.
JFKCoC Directors General Monthly Meeting
JFK International Airport, Building 14 – Conference Room “A”
Guests welcome, but must RSVP. Light breakfast will be served.
• November 16, 6 to 10 p.m.
Air & Space Gala
15th Annual Cradle of Aviation Museum. Honoring Alan Bean, Daniel Kearns, and Arthur J. Molins.

Long Island City Partnership
President: Elizabeth Lusskin
718.786.5300
www.longislandcityqueens.ccom
Founded in 1979, the Long Island City Partnership advocates for economic development that benefits LIC’s industrial, commercial, cultural and residential sectors. The goal is to attract new businesses to the neighborhood, retain those already here, welcome new residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixed-use community. The LIC Partnership operates the LIC Business Improvement District and the LIC Industrial Business Zone.
• November 3, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
3rd Annual Ice Cream Social Party
34-27 Steinway Street
Astoria
Tickets include make your own sundaes. Alcohol and boozy floats available for purchase.

Maspeth Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378
President: David Dario
718.335.1300
maspethchamberofcommerce.org
QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have 120 members and a budget of $115,000.
The Chamber meets the second Tuesday of each month at noon at Connolly’s Corner on Grand Avenue. The majority of their budget is spent on holiday lights, banners, beautification and festivals, including replacing the street banners on Grand Avenue. There has recently been a push to form a BID on Grand Avenue.
• November 14, Noon
Maspeth Chamber of Commerce Meeting
Connolly’s Corner
71-15 Grand Avenue
Maspeth
• November 16, 6 to 8 p.m.
Business Card Exchange
Peggy Dempsey’s
64-14 Flushing Avenue
Maspeth

Middle Village Chamber of Commerce
79-47 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379
President: Salvatore Crifasi
718.894.8700
[email protected]
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $8,000 with 35 businesses under its umbrella.
Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80th streets. Annual membership fee is $150, and they are looking to gain momentum through attracting new members. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs. Their new initiative is cleaning Metropolitan Avenue and organizing the holiday lights in December to create a festive atmosphere for the community. The MVCC has received grants for street cleaning and are looking for grants for the holiday lights, since some businesses do not support them. The Chamber will host meetings in connection with the Middle Village Property Owners & Residents Association at 7:30 p.m. on November 13, and December 18. The meetings take place at St. Margaret’s Parish at 66-10 80th Street.

Queens Economic Development Corporation
12-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 309
Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Executive Director: Seth Bornstein
718.263.0546
queensny.org
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $1.5 million and a resource of over 2,000 businesses.
Funded by Department of Small Business Services, they strive to create and retain jobs via programs that grow neighborhoods and assist small businesses. QEDC assists by providing one-on-one consultations, hosting workshops, operating training courses and networking events.

Myrtle Avenue BID
62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385
Executive Director: Ted Renz
718.366.3806
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with over 300 retail and service businesses under its purview.
Board meetings are held four times a year with the annual meeting in June. The district includes Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood between Fresh Pond Road and Wyckoff Avenue. Program support is provided by the Ridgewood LDC. The Youthmarket operates until November 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Myrtle Avenue, weather permitting.

Rockaway Business Alliance
[email protected]
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $40,000 and a resource for over 200 businesses.
The Rockaway Business Alliance was founded in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. RBA’s vision is to create business corridors that are clean, safe, and welcoming, with shopping, dining, attractions, and engagement for the local community and the visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces. RBA seeks to create and curate an inviting atmosphere for all to enjoy year round.
• November 16, 7 to 9 p.m.
Merchant Mixer
Rockaway Love
90-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd.
Open to anyone who is a member of the RBA, anyone interested in becoming a member, and to our community partners.

Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation
1920 Mott Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
President: Kevin Alexander
718.327.5300
www.rdrc.org
QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has 30 members.
The RDRC offers employment assistance and improves public spaces with commercial development projects such as the Downtown Far Rockaway Storefront Improvement Act. Its newest project is the Downtown Rockaway Wireless Network.

Steinway Street BID
25-69 38th Street, Suite 1C, Astoria 11103
Executive Director: Tony Barsamian
718.728.7820
[email protected]
steinwaystreet.org
QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1991, the BID has over 300 members.
Board meetings are held seven times a year. The BID’s vision is to make Steinway Street user friendly, while highlighting the local businesses on the street and bringing together the Astoria community in a positive way. The BID works to improve sanitation, marketing, security, holiday lighting, beautification and Internet access along this famous street in Queens.

Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104
President: Rigoberto Cardoso
516.492.0513
www.sunnyside-chamber.org
QUICK GLANCE: Annual budget of $55,000.
The chamber is an organization built around assisting and helping local business and professionals by providing resources to increase business, safety and historical preservation. Some accomplishments include the Sunnyside Post Office, formation of the Sunnyside Shines Business Development District, parking under the elevated train, sidewalk cafe rezoning on Skillman Avenue, and holiday lights on Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint and Skillman avenues.
• November 21, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
“The Scoop” Local Real Estate
Free
In one of the hottest markets around, with high prices which surprise many, some of us need more information, not sales pressure. Local Chamber brokers speak on helpful topics to all of us, buyers, sellers, renters on both sides, newcomers, such as how to buy our first co-op, what the trends are this minute, what has changed as to the best financial instrument, bank information, pros and cons of self sales and rentals, what are the going rates for rentals and sales, and more. Also available for Q & A will be Chamber real estate attorneys. Free Admission, but reserve a seat at [email protected].

Sunnyside Shines
45-56 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104
Executive Director: Jaime-Faye Beam
718.606.1800
[email protected]
sunnysideshines.org
QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella.
• November 21, 6 to 8 p.m.
Sunnyside Shines Holiday Lighting
Sunnyside Arch
Featuring the Sunnyside Youth Drum Corps, the Fabulous Fezziwigs Carollers, and more. Enjoy this festive night and share the holiday spirit with the community-at-large as the lights twinkle and shine throughout the neighborhood.

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