What's Happening This Week in
Downtown Jamaica
We're Thinking About Summer!

Yes, its bitter cold, but we're already thinking summer...and in particular about our Family Fun on the Ave event, when we close down Jamaica Avenue for music, games and more ( see last years pics here ).

Mark your calendars for our next Family Fun on the Ave! Tentative dates for next year are June 27 , August 22 and October 31 . Community organizations, if you want to be involved send us a note here !
Meet Our Team: Trey Jenkins

Ever wonder who is behind the BID? In the next few weeks we'll be highlighting different members of our staff, sanitation and board. This week we're featuring Trey Jenkins, our Director of Marketing and Business Services. Trey has been with the BID since August of 2018 and is in charge of marketing for the BID, event management, sidewalk sales, sponsorship and working with the businesses on Jamaica Avenue and this newsletter. Trey is a die-hard sports fan that plays soccer and basketball twice a week and is a huge fan of the Louisville Cardinals and Lamar Jackson.

You can reach Trey here !
Winter Event Guides Are Here

You can access our new winter event guide on our website under the "Seasonal Events Guide" section , download it below, or you can pick one up throughout Jamaica Avenue over the next couple of months to find out what's happening. Copies are currently available at local retailers, King Manor Museum , Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning and the Jamaica Market .
The AirTrain Jazz Festival with Bobby Sexton

The AirTrain Jazz Festival series continues next week with Bobby Sexton on the AirTrain Jamaica stage. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrations At The Library

Join Queens Library as they honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. with dance, poetry, crafts, a book discussion, and much more.

This is a multimedia, theatrical reenactment that depicts the day, over sixty years ago, when Dr. King was nearly stabbed to death on September 20, 1958 at a book signing on 125th Street in the heart of Harlem.

Black History Month Celebration, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) Presents The Meeting

The Meeting is an engaging and intelligent play that depicts a fictional account of a secret meeting between Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Following the bombing of Malcolm X’s home, Malcolm and Martin meet in a room inside the historic Theresa Hotel. This riveting play deals with issues that are still relevant today: war, poverty, racism, and the need for Black self-empowerment. They were two men with different ideologies, but a common understanding of the plight of Black Americans.

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

  • Save up to 25% on Living Rooms
 
H&M

  • Does your kid love to wear the same thing over and over? H&M's styles make mornings a breeze. Stock up on their favorites —Plus, get points on every purchase when you join H&M's Loyalty Program. Shop now in-store!
 
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! Contact the BID to learn more.
Office Anchor Strategy - Queens RFP

NYCEDC, in partnership with the City of New York, acting by and through its Department of Citywide Administrative Services, is pleased to release this RFP for a long-term lease of approximately 55,000 carpetable square feet of office space (approximately 73,000 rentable square feet) to be occupied by a designated City agency. The RFP will preference proposals offering office space in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens.
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
Know Your Rights Workshop on Succession Rights

Legal Hand Jamaica, and the Center for Court Innovation invite you to the Know-Your-Rights Workshop on Succession Rights. This workshop is designed for community volunteers, service providers, political office staff, and community residents and will address pressing legal issues in the community.  

Queens Underground 718 Presents The First Ever Black History Month Film Festival

Calling all children (10 yrs. through 17 yrs.) and adults for the 1st Ever International Black History Month Film Festival and next Red Carpet Extravaganza! Not a contest, but an exciting and vibrant showcase of cinematic talent exploring the past, present and future.

Submit your project specifically relating to Black History for the Past, Present & Future. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to submit.
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz’s African American Heritage Committee 2020 Scholarship

Each year the African American Heritage Committee awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors pursuing a post-secondary education. Recipients receive a monetary award for academic expenses. Applicants must be residents of Queens. Interested high school seniors must submit a completed application with an official high school transcript by 5 p.m. on January 10, 2020 . Scholarship recipients will be notified by January 31, 2020.
Scholarship Opportunity From the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The Pi Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is pleased to present a scholarship opportunity for high school seniors of pan-African heritage.

Applicants must: reside in Queens County; be of pan-African, pan-Caribbean, or African-American descent; be a graduating high school senior; have attained a cumulative GPA of 85 or better.

All scholarship applications and materials must be received by Friday, February 14, 2020
Tuition Free Quality Academic & Career Training Programs

The State University of New York’s Queens Educational Opportunity Center offers tuition free quality academic and career training programs. Among the classes they offer are: preparation classes for the TASC exam; English as a second language (3 levels), certified professional coder/biller; home health aide, Microsoft Excel or Word certification, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Pathways-to-College.

Apply Monday through Thursday between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, or Wednesday evening between 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm.
Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep Program for College Students

Thanks to a generous grant from AccessLex Institute, the Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep Program at St. John’s Law proudly announces a new program dedicated to helping adult learners achieve their dreams: the new Weekend LSAT Boot Camp. This free program aims to serve working professionals, recent college graduates, and college seniors in the New York City area from historically underrepresented groups who want to pursue a career in the law.

The deadline for applications has been extended to January 31st, 2020.
Queens Bus Network Redesign Public Workshop

For the last few months, the MTA has been diligently working to completely redraw the Queens Bus Network to create a faster, more reliable system of interconnected routes. To do this, they wiped the map clean and started from scratch, which means there are a lot of changes proposed in this proposed Draft Plan. Read it carefully, and make sure to review the new routes, see what your commute would be like in the new network.
Send A Vet A Valentine

New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. invites you to “Send a Vet a Valentine”. Your donation of a greeting card or new clothing such as hats, gloves, scarves or socks will make this Valentine’s Day special for an elderly veteran who has served our country.

Drop off all donations at Senator Sanders' office ( 142-01 Rockaway Boulevard ) or 1931 Mott Avenue, Suite 305 ) by Monday, February 3rd . For additional information, call (718) 327-7017 or (718) 523-3069.
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.