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LIC Update: October 15, 2020
Featured Updates
Webinar on Maximizing Your Restaurant's Potential
Tuesday, October 20 at 9am - Join Us!

As NYC restaurants can continue to offer outdoor dining and resume limited indoor dining, restaurant and bar owners are looking for ways to attract more patrons and maximize sales going forward. Please join us for this webinar with Professor Stephani K. A. Robson from Cornell University as she shares suggestions and tips on complying with NYS requirements and maximizing profitability, including:

  • Positioning tables and signage
  • Creating a more welcoming atmosphere
  • Increasing spending-per-minute
  • Turning tables quickly

Attendees will have the opportunity to submit their questions during registration or live during the session.

For questions about the event, please reach out to Carla Nicdao, Director of Events, at [email protected].
LaGuardia Airtrain: Submit Your Support Through Oct. 20
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed LaGuardia Airport Access Improvement Project (AirTrain). The proposed project would include passenger stations at LaGuardia Airport that would connect with the New York City subway system and the Long Island Railroad at Willets Point.

The 45-day public comment period that ends on October 5 has been extended to October 20 at 5pm.

TODAY is the Last Day to Take the 2020 Census!
Completing the Census is one thing every New Yorker can do to make sure New York has the resources it needs and the representation we deserve for the next 10 years.
Internship Opportunity with Hour Children in Astoria/LIC Area!
LICP Member Hour Children in partnership with the NYC Coalition Against Sexual Assault, is sponsoring a 15-week virtual internship - Project DOT - for young people in the Astoria/LIC community.
 
It is a paid internship and there are still spaces available. The program began this week, but there is still time for young people to apply. Applicants must be 15+ and be based in the Astoria/LIC area.
COVID-19 Updates
*NEW* NYC Releases Winter Outdoor Dining Guidance – In September, Mayor de Blasio announced the extension of the Open Restaurants program. The long-awaited guidance was released yesterday, which included more information on outdoor heating options:

  • Electric radiant heaters will be allowed in sidewalk and roadway seating setups. For full guidance from the Department of Buildings, click here.
  • Natural gas radiant heaters will be allowed on the sidewalk only. For full guidance from the Department of Buildings, click here. Natural gas radiant heaters must also comply with the Fire Code.
  • Portable heaters fueled by propane will be allowed on the sidewalk only. Propane heating will be regulated by the Fire Department, with requirements for safe handling, use and storage. For full guidance from the Fire Department, click here.
For more information, please visit the Mayor’s Press Release at this link.

*NEW* Optional COVID-19 Recovery Charge Goes Into Effect 10/16 – Restaurants and Bars can begin including a 10% “COVID-19 Recovery Charge” on customers’ bills on October 16. The surcharge applies to on-premise dining only and is subject to sales tax. For the full detail on implementation, please visit this link. 

LISC NYC Small Business Relief & Recovery Fund – This Fund will provide direct grants of $10,000 to New York City minority-owned small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to support their recovery. Awardees can use funds for payroll, rent, marketing, overhead, cost of technology, employee training, or related costs. Businesses applying for funds must meet these requirements:
  • Located in New York City
  • Minority-owned
  • Have 20 or fewer employees
  • Have an annual revenue of less than $500,000.
For more information, click here. Businesses interested in applying for a grant, please contact Charles Yu ([email protected]) or Osagie Afe ([email protected]). 

Reopening Checklist - Our COVID-19: Reopening Checklist is a tool for businesses to use as NYC continues reopening. There are important forms to fill out prior to reopening and this checklist will help cover your bases. Click here to download the checklist.

Recovery Survey - We would like to remind you to please take COVID-19 Business Recovery Survey to help us get a further understanding of how your business or organization’s recovery efforts and the challenges you anticipate. Click here to fill out the survey.
Businesses: Have updates to your listing? Let us know here.
LIC in the News
LIC BID Annual Meeting - Virtual Event
Join the Long Island City Business Improvement District for our 15th Annual Meeting as we report on services over the past year, including during COVID-19, discuss plans for the future, review financials, elect directors of the board, and present awards.
 
This event is open to the public and free to attend with advanced registration. However, in order to vote at the meeting you must:
  1. Be eligible- either a property owner, commercial tenant or resident in district outlines in the map below AND
  2. Be registered- register online at licqns.com/licbidmemberregister as a voting member by November 8th. If you have registered as a voting member in previous and your eligibility has not changed, you do not have to register again.

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