Upcoming Events, Legislative News, Grant Opportunities, & More

(Friday) Extra, Extra

Click here for this week's video:

• 2022 SOMOS Conference promoting the small business agenda
• Veterans Day Luncheon Salutes Armed Services
• The Bronx Chamber of Commerce office is closed today, Friday, November 11
• Bronx Chamber member Amazon expands Bronx footprint to 1.5M Square feet
• Small Business Team tours Arthur Avenue in Belmont

Legislative & Advocacy Updates

• Get Stuff Clean Initiative Launched
• General Election Results

Funding Opportunities

• NYS SEED Program for Early-Stage Businesses

Upcoming Events

• Annual Holiday Party, December 8th

5 CHAMBER ALLIANCE PROMOTES SMALL BUSINESS AGENDA 2022 SOMOS CONFERENCE

Live from SOMOS. The small business agenda, strengthening businesses in NYC and Puerto Rico.

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce leads a panel discussion on small business development, the Small Business Resource Network, and opportunities and challenges in New York City and Puerto Rico. The 5 Chamber Presidents were joined by Marlene Cintron, Regional Administrator for the United States Small Business Administration, and Bronx Chamber member and owner of ChocoBar Cortes in the South Bronx, Carlos Cortes.

The panel discussion was one of the highest attended panels during this economic and policy focus conference which brings together policy makers, influencers, and thought partners with the focus of making New York City and the Island of Puerto Rico stronger together, while also charting a coordinated plan for economic and business development. The Bronx is home to the largest Puerto Rican population outside of the Island.

For more information or to catch the complete video from the conference, visit the Chamber on Instagram, @thenewbxcc

The Bronx Chamber will also lead Coffee and Conversation with Hon. Marjorie Velazquez from SOMOS focused on Consumer Affairs and the Economy on Friday, November 11 at 1pm New York time, 2pm Puerto Rican time. Click here to register.

VETERANS CELEBRATED DURING THE 2022 VETERANS LUNCHEON & RECONGITION CEREMONY

Saluting our Veterans. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and leadership team celebrates our veterans during the Chamber's annual Veterans Luncheon & Recognition Ceremony highlighting our gratitude to members of the armed services who defended our ideals, freedoms, and nation.

Over 50 Bronx Veterans joined guests and Chamber leaders at Pasquale's Rigoletto on Arthur Avenue in the Belmont section of the Bronx to honor veterans and promote Bronx Chamber business programs specifically designed for veteran owned businesses. University Veteran Centers, local battalions, rotary clubs, and Bronx Veterans groups gathered to honor 5 veteran of the armed services, including:

• Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo Garcia, U.S Army
• Master Sgt. Chris Devoy, U.S Marine Corps
• Seaman Miguel Ramirez, U.S Navy
• Senior Airman Chris Kocovic, U.S Airforce
• Petty Officer 2nd Class David Leich, U.S Coast Guard

The annual event, generously sponsored by Chamber donors, celebrates Veterans and raises funding and awareness for Chamber Veteran Small Business programs. Thank you to everyone who worked to make this event possible and to our Veterans for their service to the nation. Special thanks to our Board members in attendance and for the leadership of Anthony Mormile and John Bonizio.

For more information on Veteran owned business services, email: [email protected]

AMAZON EXPANDS BRONX FOOTPRINT TO 1.5M SQUARE FEET

Bronx Chamber of Commerce member Amazon expands it presence in New York City by growing its footprint to 1.5M square feet of leased space. Amazon recently inked a deal at the former Whitestone Multiplex site which in 2019 was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility.

The developers revealed that the site would be used for e-commerce, but the project remained in limbo until recently, when retail giant Amazon, announced it will be moving in, using the location as a fulfillment center, nearly doubling its presence in the borough. Home Depot will soon join Amazon at the site.

“The big deal for the Bronx is this brings Amazon’s footprint in the borough to about 1.5 million square feet,” said Michael Brady, chair of the legislative committee for Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Brady says the lease agreement is a win for the borough’s economy, creating jobs and cementing it as a great place for both small and national retailers to do business. The Bronx tried to woo Amazon during its search for New York City-based headquarters. But the online retailer chose Queens. That deal eventually fell though following fierce backlash over government incentives.

“We put in offers to Amazon saying we can do things over here. We have the people. We have the know how. We have the industrial zoning already; maybe Queens’ loss is our gain,” said Brady. 

To learn more about this deal, Click here.

ARTHUR AVENUE GETS A BOOST FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS TEAM

The Bronx Chamber team celebrates the Bronx and boosts small business services on Arthur Avenue in a recent canvass of this historic cultural enclave with the Small Business Resource Team.

The Bronx Chamber welcomed the citywide partners of the Small Business Resource Network to Arthur Avenue in the Belmont section of the Bronx to visit businesses and discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of this historic and culturally diverse commercial district that is the home of NYC's real Little Italy!

The team, led by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, included representatives from the 5 Chamber Alliance and Small Business Resource Network teams and highlighted the Bronx Chamber's success in delivering in-person services to over 5,000 Bronx businesses since the program began.

Interested in learning more?mEmail, [email protected]

LEGISLATION & REGULATIONS

Get Stuff Clean Initiative Launched.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan announced $14.5 million in new funding to create a cleaner city through a major upgrade to cleanliness protocols across the five boroughs. The ‘Get Stuff Clean’ initiative will invest $14.5 million this fiscal year alone to clean more than 1,000 ‘No Man’s Land’ neglected areas around the city, increase litter basket service, expand camera enforcement against illegal dumping, and bring on additional rat exterminators — resulting in faster and more reliable cleaning of every corner of the city. 

Initiative highlights include:

• Adams Administration Will End ‘No Man’s Land’ Areas of Dirty Conditions Around Five Boroughs That Have Been Neglected
• Mayor Adams Doubles Down on Cleanliness Investments After July Cleanliness Funding Already Showing Results
• DSNY to Add 200 New Sanitation Workers to Keep Public Spaces Clean

New York State Election Update

Democratic candidates take statewide offices, while “down ballot” races were more mixed, with several races too close to call

Kathy Hochul, who became Governor following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo in August 2021, won a full term – becoming the first elected female Governor in the state’s history – over Republican challenger Lee Zeldin. Likewise, incumbent State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and incumbent Attorney General Letitia James were re-elected.

In the State Legislature, it appears that there were some net losses to the Democratic majorities in the Senate and the Assembly, but not enough to threaten their firm control of those bodies, although it could deprive one or both of their supermajorities (i.e., holding 2/3 of the seats in their respective houses). The results were especially mixed in the State Senate, where Democrats picked up one open seat comprised of parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, hold a narrow advantage in two other open seats (one in the Southern Tier and one in Brooklyn), and won two races where districts were combined through the recent redistricting process (one in Western NY and one in the Hudson Valley). At the same time, Republicans appear to have picked up seats on Long Island and the Hudson Valley, although a few of those races are still “too close to call” along with a seat in the Syracuse region. In the State Assembly, several Democratic incumbents appear to have lost or are in tight races on Long Island and in parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.

New York State also features prominently in the Federal elections; particularly as the majorities for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives remain undecided. As expected, Democratic U.S. Senator and Majority Leader Charles Schumer won a 5th term, and is now poised to become the state’s longest serving U.S. Senator. Conversely, Republicans have been particularly competitive in races for the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially picking up seats on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, although a few of the races remain close. 

Because absentee ballots postmarked by election day and perhaps a number of disputed ballots may still be left to be counted, the ultimate outcomes of some races may not be known for a few days, at a minimum. An additional, more detailed report of the outcomes will follow once all of the ballots are counted.

The Bronx Chamber leadership team will be meeting with elected officials and their teams as we begin implementing the Chamber's legislative agenda and budget appropriation requests.

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, November 11 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Coffee & Conversation w. Hon. Marjorie Velasquez

Chair, NYC Council Committee on Consumer Affairs & Worker Protection

Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for coffee and conversation with Councilmember Marjorie Velasquez, Jr., Chair of the Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Worker Protection, discussing new regulations, opens street dining, zoning, and charting a brighter economic future for the Bronx.

The discussion will occur, 1pm - NY time, 2pm - Puerto Rico time

Click HERE To Register

Thursday, November 17 from 10:00am to 11:00am

Coffee & Conversation w. Hon. Eric Dinowitz

Chair, NYC Council Committee on Higher Education

Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for coffee and conversation with Councilmember Eric Dinowitz, Chair of the Council Committee on Higher Education, discussing new regulations, the Bronx delegation, workforce and education programs, and more.

Click HERE To Register

Thursday, December 8 from 6:00pm to 11:00pm

Winter Wonderland Holiday Party

Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for our annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Party. Bring your company, your teams, or your friends and families and celebrate the holidays with an open bar, 3 course dinner, dancing, and entertainment as we do good for the community by supporting the children and families of Astor Children's Services with our annual gift drive.

Click HERE To Register

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!