What's Happening This Week in Downtown Jamaica

The New Jamaica Center BID Website It’s Here! At long last, we’ve launched our new website, a hub for all things Jamaica Avenue: jamaica.nyc . Use our site to navigate what's happening in the neighborhood, explore all there is to see and do entertainment-wise, access a full directory of businesses on Jamaica Avenue and (if you’re a business owner) learn more about how the BID can help you achieve your goals. Test drive it here !

Neighborhood News Congrats to the Jamaica NOW Leadership Council , the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation , our local elected officials and community Board, relevant City agencies and other parties on the recent ribbon cutting for the THE ATLANTIC AVENUE EXTENSION AND GATEWAY  a new welcoming park and playground for the community just west of our downtown shopping district. A project over 10 years in the making, this site of a once-vacant lot is now a whimsical new playground (complete with a water play area) just outside of our downtown’s borders! Learn more about this exciting new development for downtown Jamaica here and here .

Business News

Jamaica Avenue Busway: Merchant/Business Feedback Requested  The Department of Transportation recently announced its plans to install a new pilot busway on Jamaica Avenue to improve bus speeds and alleviate traffic congestion. As part of this, a Community Advisory Board “CAB” comprised of local stakeholders (including our BID) has been assembled to learn more about the initiative and to provide feedback prior to implementation. The initial presentation prepared by DOT can be accessed here , and we expect to receive more in-depth details soon, which we will share. In the meantime, we would like to hear back from our businesses and property owners regarding this concept. Are you in support? Have concerns? Particular questions you’d like answered? Please email jfurioli@jamaicacenter.org (Subject line: “Busway”) so that we can effectively convey your feedback to DOT and our elected officials. We’re also canvassing our businesses this week and next on this issue and a variety of other topics, so be on the lookout for us!

Small Business Grants: Don't Miss Out! Round 5 of the LISC Small Business Relief Grants application is now live. You can learn more and apply here .  Additionally, the Queens Chamber of Commerce is administering a $400,000 grant program to help Queens businesses pay for products and services that will allow them to operate this summer while keeping customers and their employees safe. Businesses can apply for the grant at the link here . Under the program, small businesses will receive grants in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to purchase PPE and IPC measures, such as masks, gloves, sanitizer, face shields, sanitizing services, additional furniture for outdoor dining, temperature scanners, goggles, plexiglas, and outfitting of interior to accommodate social distancing. The program will link grantees with local vendors to purchase products and services, the majority of which will be minority- and women-owned businesses. Grant funding is expected to run out quickly, and so we encourage all of our Jamaica Avenue BID businesses to apply! The application is fast and simple. If you apply, please notify our BID so that we can check on your application status and alert the Queens Chamber to be on the lookout for your application.

PPE Distribution In the past few weeks our office has distributed thousands upon thousands of free face masks and face shields to local Jamaica Avenue and Southeast Queens businesses, as one of the City of New York’s authorized distribution partners. We are temporarily out of PPE, but will announce further shipments for distribution when it comes available. In the meantime, if your business wishes to procure PPE and other helpful reopening supplies the City has created a PPE + Reopening Supplies Marketplace .

Helpful Business Webinars Queens-based Long Island City Partnership (a fellow Business Improvement District) is presenting a free webinar on best practices and trends for reopening office space in NYC post-COVID-19. The webinar will take place this Wednesday, July 29 from 10-11 a.m. and will appeal to both office tenants and the landlords who manage buildings with office space. For more info and to register, please RSVP here .  QEDC has continued their fabulous Reboot and Restart webinars into summer. They’re doing a session on Health Department Issues for Restaurants on Thursday, 7/30. The webinar is to help restaurants as they begin to reopen. It will cover Article 81 of the NYC Food Code and the Letter Grade System, including best practices and hot topics. Additionally, the webinar will include current COVID regulations, NYS and NYC guidance and additional COVID precautions necessary going forward. Register here .    NYC’s Department of Small Business Services continues to offer a variety of webinars to help businesses navigate each Phase. Businesses can view the list and register on Eventbrite . These webinars will review State guidelines and best practices for reopening across sectors, assistance available for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, and more. Keep checking back on the link as they add additional webinars and virtual events.  The Small Business Administration will be hosting a webinar on PPP Forgiveness. Learn about PPP Flexibility Act Seven changes of PPP, The changes to the First Loan Review Rules, the Most Common FAQs , the Revised PPP Forgiveness Application SBA Form 3508 and Instructions, and the new SBA Form 3508EZ and Instructions. The webinar will occur this Thursday, July 30 at 9:30 a.m. Please use the link here to register.  Finally, the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development will present a webinar later this month on the New York Forward Loan Fund (Thursday, August 20 at 2 p.m. Register here .) The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, including Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs)**, nonprofits, and small landlords that have been excluded by other relief and recovery efforts, as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.

Marketing Opportunity: NYC & Company Launches "All in NYC" Campaign  You’re invited to help NYC & Company kick off the new All In NYC: Opening Up campaign, targeted at rallying New Yorkers behind our city's immutable spirit and infinite experiences to help local businesses get back on their feet.   Here's how to participate :  Post videos (under 60 seconds) and/or photos opening up about how you're All In on NYC. Identify yourself, your neighborhood, and your business, and tell us how you're getting back to work and/or reopening your doors.  Share your stories on your business and/or personal social media channels using hashtag #AllInNYC. Tag @nycgo and anyone you know whose story needs to be told.   Click here for example posts from Bronx Beer Hall and Little Caribbean NYC .   For tips on capturing optimal content, click 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

Movies In Your Car Series York College will host the Movies in Your Car series from Thursday, July 30 to Sunday, August 2 . Park in the College’s lot and watch such blockbusters such as "Training Day," "Harlem Nights," Girls' Trip," and even "Sonic The Hedgehog." Consider picking up a meal to go at one of our Jamaica Avenue restaurants first, to support your local economy! For more info on this creative and fun series visit here . Great job, York!!

JAMS Fest JAMS Fest is happening this weekend! Cultural Collaborative Jamaica will be hosting JAMS via Zoom this Friday and Saturday. Follow our social media accounts here , here and here for more information as it becomes available. Our Jamaica Avenue BID team plans on attending and providing an update on our new website and businesses that have recently opened on the Avenue!

Please Respond to the Census New York's Census response rate is at 56.7% , well below the national average. It is vital for our future that every New Yorker takes a few minutes to complete the Census form. It's safe, easy and can be done online from the comfort of your own home. Let's make sure every New Yorker is counted. Complete the Census today at my2020census.gov .

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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