What's Happening This Week in
Downtown Jamaica
Trick or Treat on the Ave

We're celebrating Halloween on the Avenue with a new special event on Saturday, October 26 at Rufus King Park. Join us for a variety of FREE family fun activities including music, arts and crafts! Pick up a trick or treat map to visit local businesses for FREE treats and shop while you're there! Costumes are encouraged!

The Jamaica Center BID's 40th Annual Meeting

Join us as we celebrate our 40th year as a BID in Jamaica and learn more about our activities in the past year and those to come. Featured guest speakers will include Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and Commissioner Gregg Bishop of the NYC Department of Small Business Services . Space is limited so please RSVP below.

The First Ever Multi-Genre International Film Festival

Queens Center for the Arts and Queens Underground 718 presents the first ever multi-genre film fest with categories for filmmakers, performers (singers, rappers, musicians, poets, and dancers), small businesses/entrepreneurs and web series producers.

19th Annual Harvest Festival

Greater Jamaica Development Corporation's Harvest Festival returns for another year of fun, joy, and laughter. Get ready for a day filled with food, live music, arts, crafts, and much more!

Jamaica Read-a-Thon

A Better Jamaica (ABJ) presents the second annual Jamaica Read-a-thon this Monday, October 21, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. ABJ will once again deploy 48 local celebrities including our BID Executive Director Jennifer Furioli to the token booth level of the Jamaica Center Parsons/Archer subway station to read his or her favorite children’s book(s) for 15 minutes each. Jennifer will be on stage at 11:30 a.m. so stop by! Proceeds benefit local literary initiatives. You can contribute here .

  • Monday, October 21 from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. at Jamaica Center Parsons/Archer Avenue Subway Station
The AirTrain Jazz Festival with Craig Holiday Haynes & Friends

The AirTrain Jazz Festival series continues this week with Craig Holiday Haynes & Friends on the AirTrain Jamaica stage. Join us as we pay tribute to Jamaica’s rich jazz history by presenting some of the New York City metropolitan area’s best jazz musicians playing live.

Where-In: Ifeatuanya (Ify) Chiejina + Julian Phillips

Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL) presents the Where-in: 2019 ARTWorks, Inc Two Fellow Artist-in-Residence Show featuring the works of Ifeatuanya (Ify) Chiejina and Julian Louis Phillips. The exhibition runs from October 10 – November 9, 2019, with an Artist Reception on October 24th from 6 - 9 p.m. This show culminates the artists’ creative endeavors, and celebrates the work that they have created during their artist-in-residence at JCAL!

2019 Tree of Life Gala

Join the First Jamaica Community & Urban Development Corporation for their Tree of Life Gala this December and help improve Jamaica through economic empowerment and self sufficiency!

District Deals
Jamaica Center BID Value Card

Sign up for our Value Card and we'll send you a digital version of the card to use in participating stores on Jamaica Avenue.

Below are the stores that are accepting the Value Card with 10% discounts! Check them out when you're out and about.



Jamaica Center BID businesses: Have a district deal you want to share with over 3,000 people? Send it to us, and we'll post it in our newsletter! Email us below!
Raymour & Flanigan

  • Columbus Day Sale - Save on Everything!
 
Downtown Jamaica Business Resources
Jamaica Center BID Banner Program

Calling all businesses! Participate in our banner program and promote your brand throughout Downtown Jamaica through a sponsorship banner! This fall new banners will be raised throughout Jamaica Avenue. Contact the BID to learn more.
StartUP! Business Competition

The Queen's Economic Development Corporation's StartUP! Competition is back! Get training, meet with advisors, and enter the competition for a chance to win a $10,000 grant for your business!
Restaurant Loan Program

Jamaica Center BID's recent Commercial District Needs Assessment identified that local residents and workers want more restaurants in the neighborhood. Now is an opportune time to open a restaurant: Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is looking to help restaurant entrepreneurs open restaurants in Downtown Jamaica with a loan program offering up to $150,000! Learn more and apply below.
Downtown Jamaica Leasing Opportunities
Community Assistance & Resources
The Artist Commissioning Program 
application is now live! 

The Artist Commissioning Program (ACP) awards Queens-based choreographers, playwrights, and composers $10,000 each towards the creation of a new, original work that tells an untold story relevant to two Queens neighborhoods. For the 2019-20 ACP cycle, the two neighborhoods of focus are Flushing and Maspeth/Ridgewood. 

This program democratizes the traditional commissioning process, which has historically been reserved for a privileged few, by enabling local arts appreciators, or Art Commissioners, to commission new culture.

Art Commissioners apply by October 17. Artists apply by November 14.
2020 Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter Scholarship

The Brothers of the Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated are seeking high school underrepresented seniors to compete for their numerous scholarships. Please contact Teniola Daramola for more information.
That Suits You! Professional Style Workshop Series With PK Kersey

Author and entrepreneur PK Kersey is partnering with the Central Library Job & Business Academy (JBA) to offer style workshops and lessons on image. Come and learn about custom fittings, professional style tips, and other topics related to suit care, image etiquette, and proper attire that allows you to put your best foot forward during interviews and within the workplace. All attendees get a free necktie from the Job & Business Academy’s TIEbrary. 


  • 10/30: What Does Success Mean to You and How Are You Planning for It?
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.