What's Happening This Week in Downtown Jamaica

Black Lives Matter Ground Mural & Black Entrepreneurship on Jamaica Avenue  If you haven’t noticed already, a Black Lives Matter ground mural was recently installed on Jamaica Avenue on the portion between the Family Courts and King Manor museum. Post installation, our local elected officials, with the significant leadership of Council Member I. Daneek Miller, put on a series of festive and themed events intended to draw attention to the mural and provide necessary—but socially distant—community engagement with the public. Themed days included Gospel, Youth and Community days, each with their own sets of joyful and educational activities. Our BID was pleased to participate in several of these days, where we encouraged attendees to learn more about and support our Jamaica Avenue Business Improvement District merchants, which during these times need our shopping support now more than ever! We handed out flyers showcasing our new website (Jamaica.nyc) and recently opened businesses; gave away reusable Jamaica Avenue shopping totes and asked shoppers to commit to supporting our local economy by signing our “Buy Local” pledge. This Friday we will return to the same spot from 1-2 p.m. to participate in the City of New York’s launch announcement for its recently-released report Advancing Black Entrepreneurship in NYC. Two of our very own BID Black-owned businesses (Make Me Over Beauty Bar and Henry’s Carrot Cakes) will be present. Please come and support them. We’re also partnering with King Manor Museum and the Queens Chronicle to ‘Celebrate The Jewels of Jamaica,’ this Friday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. We’ll be at the King Manor Museum front lawn for a socially distant family fun day. Stop by, see us, sign a pledge to shop local on Jamaica Avenue and get a new ‘I Love Jamaica’ shopping bag!

BID Visits In the past couple of weeks we have been canvassing the Avenue, visiting each of our businesses to inquire how business is going, to register businesses in our new BID emergency text alert system and to seek merchant sentiment regarding the NYC Department of Transportation’s proposal to convert Jamaica Avenue into a specially-designated busway. Pictured here is one of our ever-friendly merchants, Jimmy, from Shoppers World, along with BID staff Trey Jenkins, Fred Green and the new BID Mascot Dog, Rocki. Merchants: if we haven’t visited you yet, we look forward to stopping by to see you very soon!

Business News

Reopening Resources for All Businesses  The NYC Department of Small Business Services has launched a number of resources to help businesses prepare to reopen and begin operating safely and legally. Visit nyc.gov/covid19biz for current guidance and resources.  Business Reopening Hotline – Business owners and employers can now call 888-SBS-4NYC (727-4692) to ask questions or find assistance. Plain Language Industry Guides – Find clear guidelines about when and how to reopen your business, based on sector and industry.   Webinars – Sign up for webinars to help you navigate each phase of reopening. These webinars will review State guidelines and best practices for reopening across sectors, assistance is available for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, and more.    Find supplies – Check out the PPE + Reopening Supplies Marketplace. NYC Business Solutions Centers are available to provide consultations for small businesses in need of financing assistance and support connecting to lenders and financing products. You can contact an account manager here.

Resources Specifically for Restaurants NYC Restaurant Reopening Guide (SBS) Restaurant Reopening Packet (printable PDF version of information from website)   “What to Expect When You’re Inspected” checklist Directory of Equipment Rental for Safe Outdoor Dining – BIDs and CBOs may be able to negotiate reduced prices if purchased or rented in bulk.   Open Restaurants Virtual Compliance Consultations - The NYC Department of Small Business Services offers one-on-one free virtual compliance consultations to help businesses understand how to comply with key City rules. The virtual consultations will help businesses understand common compliance challenges related to the Open Restaurants Program. Violations or fines will not be issued during the consultations. Please click this link to sign up for a consultation.

Small Business Grant and Helpful Business Webinar  The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits, and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. Pre-applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund are now open. Priority will be given to industries and regions that have begun reopening. This is not a first-come, first-served loan program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as regions and industries reopen. Learn more here.  If you would like to attend a webinar that covers NYFLF, the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development will present a webinar today at 2 p.m. You can register here.

LISC-Lowe's Neighborhood Business Grants Program LISC is inviting small business owners in 15 locations across America to apply for the LISC-Lowe's Neighborhood Business Grants program. Applications are available now through August 23. If you are a nonprofit organization, LISC has compiled a guide of resources available nationally and locally. For more on the grant information please visit here.

New Space Leasing Opportunity New Leasing opportunity available on Jamaica Avenue at 153-17 Jamaica Avenue. If interested contact Gary Bonelli at 347-558-7744 or 718-767-0562.

Water Conservation and Reuse Grant Pilot Program  The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is rolling out Round 2 of their Water Conservation and Reuse Grant Pilot Program following a successful pilot of the program over the past year. The grant program aims to conserve the City’s drinking water supply, with a corresponding reduction of flows into the sewer system, by reimbursing commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential property owners who invest in water efficiency projects, including low-flow fixtures, as well as innovative water saving technologies such as on-site water reuse systems. Applications are open until September 15, 2020. Learn more and apply.

General Community News

Make Queens Count To inspire residents of Jamaica, South Jamaica and greater Southeast Queens to fill out the 2020 Census, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) will produce six socially distanced events, starting Friday, August 21. These events are designed to drive participation in the Census and to prevent a Southeast Queens under counting that would affect its representation in Congress and funding for federal programs. Each event will observe COVID-19 safety protocols.  The lineup includes Flamenco Latino Más Allá Series on August 21, and the first annual Southeast Queens Jam Fest on September 12, a free concert featuring 6 of the Southeast Queens community’s brightest musicians in mediums ranging from Jazz to African Drums, Hip Hop and much more. Learn more here.

Jamaica Flux: Workspaces and Windows 2021  JCAL is pleased to launch the fifth iteration of its triennial Jamaica Flux: Workspaces and Windows. Jamaica Flux supports the creation of interdisciplinary, research-based site-specific artwork that is developed in collaboration with local residents and community stakeholders in Southeast Queens. Jamaica Flux 2021 will explore the interconnection of Jamaica’s history, economic development, cultural heritage, and diversity to conceptualize topical, socially engaging projects. Learn more here.

For More Coronavirus Information from the City of New York If you would like to receive regular text alerts from City government regarding the novel Coronavirus, you can sign up by texting COVID to 692-692.

About Business and Event Promotions in this Newsletter: Businesses and organizations located in the Jamaica Avenue Commercial District between Sutphin Blvd and 169th Street are invited to submit promotional information for possible inclusion in our newsletter. Events happening near or immediately adjacent to the Jamaica Avenue Commercial District may also be considered for inclusion on a case-by-case basis. We reserve the right to reject or edit materials for length, style, timeliness, and appropriateness. This newsletter serves to inform our community about events, opportunities and commercial activity in Downtown Jamaica, within specifically the Jamaica Center BID boundaries.

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