Work With Us! 2023 RFPs

Downtown Jamaica Partnership is requesting proposals for supplemental sanitation services, light-based public artworks, and holiday lights. Please download the RFPs below.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS RFP

Date: August 14, 2023

Project: RFP for Holiday Lights

Term: Winter 2023 - Spring 2024

To: [email protected]

DJP Holiday Lights - Schedule

Date*Project Phase
Monday, August 14, 2023Request for Proposals Released
Friday August 25, 2023, by 5:00 PM EDTQuestions to the Partnership are due
Tues., August 29, 2023, by 5:00 PM EDTAnswers from the Partnership are due
Friday, September 8, 2023Submissions Due
Tuesday, September 19, 2023Selected Contractor notified
Friday, October 6, 2023Contract is signed
Monday, October 16, 2023Preliminary design proposal & technical review
Monday, October 23, 2023Finalize site(s) & design(s)
Weds, October 25 – Weds, Nov 8, 2023Fabrication
Thursday, November 9, 2023Fabrication complete; Secure City permits, approvals
Weds, November 15 – Mon, Nov 20, 2023Holiday Lights installation
February 15 – March 1, 2024Lighting Removal

*Schedule is subject to change

____________________________________

LIGHT-BASED PUBLIC ARTWORKS RFP

Date: August 07, 2023

Project: RFP for Light-based Artworks, 2023

Term: Winter 2023 - Spring 2024

To: [email protected]

DJP Light-based Artworks 2023 - Schedule

Date*Project Phase
Monday, August 7, 2023Issue Request for Proposals to Artist/Artist teams
Friday August 11, 2023, by 5:00 PM EDTQuestions to the Partnership are due
Monday, August 14, 2023, by 5:00 PM EDTAnswers from the Partnership are due
Sunday, August 20, 2023, by 5:00 PM EDTSubmissions Due
Monday, August 28, 2023Selected Artist/Artist team notified
Friday, September 8, 2023Contract is signed
Monday, September 18, 2023Preliminary design proposal & technical review
Monday, October 2, 2023Finalize site(s) & design(s)
Tuesday, October 3 - November 6, 2023Fabrication
Tuesday, November 7, 2023Fabrication is complete; Secure necessary City permits, approvals
Wednesday, November 15 – Monday, November 20, 2023Artwork installation
Week of November 20, 2023Project Unveiling
March 10 - March 15, 2024Artwork Removal

*Schedule is subject to change

____________________________________

SUPPLEMENTAL SANITATION SERVICES RFP

Date: July 31, 2023

Project: RFP for Supplemental Sanitation Services

Term: September 15, 2023 – June 30, 2025

To: [email protected]

Submission, Review and Selection Schedule (Important Dates)

____________________________________

We are Hiring!

The Downtown Jamaica Partnership (DJP) Board of Directors, in conjunction with Perch Advisors, is currently recruiting for the Downtown Jamaica Partnership’s next Executive Director.

Executive Director, Downtown Jamaica Partnership (DJP)

(Queens, NY)

The Downtown Jamaica Partnership (DJP) Board of Directors, in conjunction with Perch Advisors, is currently recruiting for the Downtown Jamaica Partnership’s next Executive Director.

About the Downtown Jamaica Partnership (DJP):

The DJP is a newly formed Business Improvement District (BID) from the merger of three local BIDs: the Jamaica Center BID, Sutphin Avenue BID, and 165th Street Mall. The Downtown Jamaica Partnership hosts more than 600 businesses, services the commercial area through thousands of hours of supplemental sanitation services, involves the community through events and promotional support for businesses, and advocates on behalf of neighborhood business owners. The combined assessment is $1.35MM.  For more information on the DJP, please visit www.jamaica.nyc.

About the Position:

The next DJP Executive Director is a strong leader who will enable the future BID to realize its next stage of impact - with innovation and execution of public space management programs and projects, sanitation and beautification, business advocacy, and marketing and events programs. The ideal candidate is a bold leader with a vision for Jamaica’s future as a commercial district that welcomes new visitors, shoppers, businesses and residents to its thriving business district. The next Executive Director will exhibit the qualities of a savvy relationship builder, innovative problem solver, dynamic manager, and inclusive leader.

The Executive Director will report directly to the Board of Directors and be responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the DJP with the following skills:

DJP Leadership, Management, and Administration

Relationship Management

Fundraising

Board of Directors and Stakeholder Engagement

Business Advocacy

Marketing/Promotion/Events

Experience and Qualifications Requested:

This is a full-time position with flexibility. Occasional nights and weekends are required.

Salary range: $125,000 - $150,000 annually depending on experience. Benefits package including generous PTO and health insurance available.

How to Apply:

No phone calls, please. Email your resume, cover letter with salary expectations, and a relevant writing sample to: [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only qualified applicants will be contacted. Please do not contact the DJP office directly regarding this employment opportunity.

The Downtown Jamaica Partnership is an EEO employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Locally-based Southeast Queens candidates are encouraged to apply.

Job Opening Date: June 9th, 2023

Job Closing Date: July 12th, 2023

Anticipated Start Date: Summer - Fall 2023

Jamaica’s Three Downtown Business Improvement Districts are joining forces!

To streamline services, reduce unnecessary administrative overhead, maximize efficiency and better serve our business community, Jamaica’s three downtown BIDs are joining.

How? In June of 2022, City Legislation was passed to create one singular business improvement district for downtown Jamaica. One nonprofit organization will administer services within the newly-united district. This organization will have a Board of Directors comprised of local property owners, businesses, residents, and City-appointed officials as dictated by local NYC Business Improvement District (BID) Law.

When? Right now! The legislation will go into effect on 1/1/23 and the prior BID boundaries will dissolve. NYC’s Department of Small Business Services (also known as SBS - the City agency that creates and oversees the City’s BID network) will be assembling a Board of Directors. SBS will assist this new Board through the process of developing bylaws, a new budget, and program priorities to benefit the business district.

For more information on this process and SBS’s timeline, please contact the agency directly here.

Who is Providing Supplemental Sanitation? Sutphin Boulevard BID now holds the current City contract with SBS to provide supplemental Sanitation Services on Jamaica Avenue from 169th Street to Sutphin Boulevard and on Union Hall from Jamaica Avenue to Archer. Contact Sutphin Boulevard BID for more information: www.sutphinblvdbid.org.

How Can I Stay Connected/Learn More? More information will be shared as it becomes available.

A Fond Farewell to Trey Jenkins: A Special Note From Our Executive Director

Today our staff says a fond farewell and sends our very best wishes to our teammate and friend, Trey Jenkins, who has accepted the position of Executive Director of the 161st Street Business Improvement District in the Bronx. His last day will be today.  For three and a half years, Trey served our business district as the Director of Marketing and Business Services. In this role, he was the primary point of contact for our business community, oversaw our social media, managed our website, and helped launch several new community events, to name but a few responsibilities.

When our organization was awarded a Strategic Impact Grant by New York City's Department of Small Business Services to help neighboring businesses just outside of our BID Boundaries adapt to Covid, it was Trey who pounded the pavement, establishing relationships with hundreds of small businesses in a short amount of time, introducing them to available loans, grants and marketing opportunities available to get customer feet back in the door. Trey took it upon himself to not only serve the Jamaica business community, but to become part of the southeast Queens civic community as well, by playing active roles in our local community board district cabinet meetings, Friends of Rufus King Park and other neighborhood groups.

His dedication, work ethic, kindness, and charisma will be greatly missed by our team and the community both, but we know that the Bronx and NYC as a whole have much to gain in the years ahead with Trey's involvement and passion for economic and community development. Our Commercial Revitalization Project Manager Jahnavi Aluri and I remain at your service in downtown Jamaica. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our organization if we can be of help.

Sincerely,
Jenn Furioli
Executive Director

Valued Clean Team Member Froylan Tehuitzil

It is with great sadness that we are letting our Jamaica Center BID community know that one of our valued Clean Team members, Froylan Tehuitzil, recently passed away after a brief illness. Froylan worked in downtown Jamaica for many years and the mark he left on our community was profound. He was always present with a smile and a helpful attitude while providing one of the most valued services we offer, keeping the Avenue clean of litter, graffiti and illegal dumping. Many merchants knew him by name and frequently complimented his hard work, so much so that we recently recognized his contributions at our November Annual Meeting.
If you would like to honor Froylan, please consider contributing to the GoFundMe account set up in his memory by his family. We would also ask that you continue to pick up litter after yourselves and thank our other Clean Team members for their service when you see them on the street. We will miss Froylan deeply, but are grateful for the time he served as our colleague and friend. If you would like to contribute to Froylan’s GoFundme page please do so here.  

View the rest of our E-newsletter here!

COVID-19 Info for Businesses

This page was last updated on 12/27/21. Items are subject to change and we cannot guarantee up-to-the-minute updates. It is your responsibility as a business to follow government directives and stay abreast of the news and changing regulations.     

From the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, our BID administered a page of covid resources (grants, loans, regulations, etc. ) for our business community, which was updated at least biweekly, and more often as new information surfaced. Moving forward, please sign up to our e-newsletter at Jamaica.nyc and our social media accounts [Instagram: @jamcenterbid, Facebook: Jamaica Avenue, Twitter: @JamCenterBID] to receive this type of up to the minute information.

LATEST COVID-19 BUSINESS SUPPORT INFORMATION

Vaccination Requirement: Key to NYC  

Children ages 5 to 11 are now required to have proof of vaccination for the public indoor activities described further below. They must show they have received at least one dose of a vaccine. 

On December 27, people 12 and older participating in the below public indoor activities will be required to show proof they have received two vaccine doses, except for those who have received the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Starting January 29, 2022, children ages 5 to 11 must also show proof of full vaccination.   

People 5 and older are required to show proof they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for: 

Indoor dining  Includes restaurants, catering halls, hotel banquet rooms, bars, nightclubs, cafeterias, coffee shops, fast food restaurants, grocery stores with indoor dining and other indoor dining spaces

Indoor fitness  Includes gyms, fitness centers, fitness classes, pools, dance studios and other indoor fitness studios, such as yoga or Pilates

Indoor entertainment and certain meeting spaces  Includes movie theaters, music and concert venues, museums, aquariums and zoos, professional sports arenas, indoor stadiums, convention centers, exhibition halls, hotel meeting and event spaces, performing arts theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, pool and billiard halls, recreational game centers, adult entertainment and indoor play areas   

People 18 and older are also required to show identification along with their proof of vaccination. These requirements — called the Key to NYC — also means employees working at these locations must be vaccinated.   

To report a location that is not following these requirements, call 311

Information for Businesses 
 
Businesses must verify each worker’s proof of vaccination starting December 27. Learn about the options for checking and recording proof of vaccination at nyc.gov/vaxtowork
 
Non-employee workers, such as contractors, must provide vaccination proof to their employers. Businesses may request that a contractor’s employer confirm proof of vaccination. Businesses must then keep a log of these requests and the confirmations they receive. More information about the types of records that are permitted can be found at nyc.gov/vaxtowork.  
 
By December 27, businesses must complete a certificate affirming they are in compliance with this requirement and post it in a public place. You can find a downloadable certificate at nyc.gov/vaxtowork.
  
Businesses should be prepared to make their records available for inspection. 

FREE BUSINESS COUNSELING

Many government and nonprofit organizations offer FREE counseling to businesses—both in terms of regular business operations as well as covid-19 business recovery:

New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS): SBS, the City’s own agency dedicated to helping New York City’s small business community has Small Business Solutions within each borough dedicated to helping businesses start, operate and grow. The Queens Small Business Solutions Center is located in downtown Jamaica on Sutphin Boulevard. They can assist minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs) get City-certified and compete for contracts, connecting entrepreneurs to free resources ranging from business courses to legal services, explaining government rules and regulations, and helping entrepreneurs apply for funding to launch or grow a business. Call 311 to schedule an appointment with the Jamaica location.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on the York College Campus: SBDC’s are federally-funded/run small business support centers that provide a wealth of counseling services. Right now the York campus SBDC has a robust training program to help businesses bridge the digital divide and get their business online. They can also help apply for forgiveness for PPP loans, identify other loans and grants, create a business plan and more.

Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC) is a nonprofit community development corporation and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that can help Queens businesses navigate government programs, apply for loans and alternative financing, create a business plan and more. They have special expertise in working with MWBE and industrial businesses as well.

Additional resources for free business advisory, classes and advocacy in Queens:

Queens Chamber of Commerce

Queens Economic Development Corporation

BUSINESS COVID-19 SITES

Skim these sites regularly for updated information on loans, grants and regulations related to covid-19 and running your business:

NYC Small Business Services Covid-19 Business Assistance Page

NY Forward: The state’s covid-19 and business reopening webpage

SBDC’s Recovery Resources for Small Businesses

Greater Jamaica Development Corporation’s Covid-19 Business Resource List

HISTORIC LANDMARK CLOCK RETURNS TO JAMAICA AVENUE

Media Contact Jamaica Center BID
Trey Jenkins
Director of Marketing and Business Services
[email protected]
718-873-2506

HISTORIC LANDMARK CLOCK RETURNS TO JAMAICA AVENUE

Herculean restoration effort by community groups and Electeds brings old-world charm to Downtown Jamaica

Jamaica, Queens (December 13, 2021) – The Jamaica Center Business Improvement District (JBID) and the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC) celebrated the completed restoration of the historic, century-old Jamaica Street clock on the corner of Union Hall Street and Jamaica Avenue in downtown Jamaica, Queens.

The Jamaica Avenue street clock was removed from its longstanding spot in early June and transported to Medfield, Massachusetts where the Electric Time Company, a company specializing in the restoration of antique street clocks, repaired the rusty base, post and dented head, restored the double face to a style closer to the original when first erected, and inserted new electronic mechanisms to propel the hands. The clock will be able to reset itself for daylight savings time without regular servicing. Funds for the project were provided by District 27 Council Member I. Daneek Miller and New York City’s Department of Small Business Services. Greater Jamaica Development Corporation and the Jamaica Center BID fundraised for and managed the project, while the nonprofit Save America’s Clocks provided horological expertise and technical assistance.

It was discovered during the restoration that the timepiece on Jamaica Avenue - which was created more than 100 years ago - is the only remaining sidewalk clock in New York City made by the Self-Winding Clock Company, a major manufacturer of electromechanical clocks founded in 1886 that closed its doors in the 1970’s.

“The clock hadn’t worked for many years. The face was grimy and covered in stickers and the door to the mechanical section was held together with duct tape,” said Jennifer Furioli of the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District. “I hadn’t been in my seat as Director of the BID more than a couple of weeks before I started receiving regular inquiries about the clock and whether our organization could do something about it. Ultimately this became 100 percent a community and team effort—without the construction management savvy of GJDC, technical expertise of Save America’s Clocks and both funding and specialized guidance from NYC SBS and our local Council Member I. Daneek Miller’s office, we wouldn’t have been able to bring this to the finish line.”

“While it took a village to restore this piece of Jamaica and American history, we are here today due to the tenacity of the late Thomas Crater who was the most vocal and well-known advocate for our neighborhood," said Justin Rodgers, interim president and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. “Tom felt this clock was symbolic of the area — if no one cares to fix the clock, no one cares to fix Jamaica. All the people involved with the restoration proves that Jamaica is in the hands of caring stewards and stakeholders.”

“The successful efforts of all involved with the restoration of the landmarked Jamaica Avenue clocks is a perfect example of the mission of Save America's Clocks:  A community-based project drawing attention to our neglected history and landscape,” said Tom Bernardin, founder and president of Save America’s Clocks. “We are proud to have been helpful in your endeavor.  We salute all involved.  May the clock stand proud for many years.”

About the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District

Founded at the Jamaica Center Improvement Association, Inc in 1979, the Jamaica Center BID is central to one of New York City’s fastest growing communities. Jamaica Center BID is the proud home to national and regional retailers, several major cultural and educational institutions as well as City, State and Federal Offices and more than 400 businesses. The Jamaica Center BID seeks to maintain Jamaica Center as a thriving business hub and premier destination to shop, work, live and play. To learn more and stay up-to-date on all happenings on Jamaica Avenue make sure to visit www.jamaica.nyc or follow JBID on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @jamcenterbid.

About Greater Jamaica Development Corporation

Formed in 1967, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is a community-building organization that plans, promotes, coordinates and advances responsible development to revitalize Jamaica, Queens, and strengthen the region. Marshalling the resources of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, GJDC’s mission is to foster affordable residential density, attract investment in amenities that enliven downtown, and accelerate entrepreneurship and creation of quality jobs.

About Save America’s Clocks

Save America’s clocks is a national preservation organization and a certified 501(c) (3) not-for-profit dedicated to locating, inventorying and assisting in the preservation and maintenance of all of America's public clocks, including street (post), tower and church and digital clocks. Other New York City clocks designated as Save America’s Clocks projects include the Yorkville Clock and the Clock at 346 Broadway (Manhattan), the clock at 495 Flatbush (Brooklyn) and the Steinway Clock in Queens. Visit www.clocks.org for more information.

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SEASONAL SURPRISES TO ENLIVEN JAMAICA AVENUE THIS SATURDAY AND NEXT

Media Contact:          
Trey Jenkins
Director of Marketing and Business Services
[email protected]
718-873-2506

For Immediate Release:

SEASONAL SURPRISES TO ENLIVEN JAMAICA AVENUE THIS SATURDAY AND NEXT

Jamaica, Queens, December 3, 2021 – Seasonal Surprises will enliven the sidewalks of Jamaica Avenue this Saturday (December 4th) and next (December 11th) when the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District presents its ‘Tis the Season holiday shopping promotion.

Designed to entice shoppers to “Get your holiday shopping done, while having fun!” ‘Tis the Season will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on each Saturday and will involve free outdoor entertainment, in-store discounts, and surprise goodies and giveaways throughout the downtown Jamaica corridor.

Slated entertainment on both weekends will involve a drop-off location at Parsons Public Space (Parsons and Jamaica Avenue) where children (and still-believing adults!) can submit their letters to Santa--to be safely delivered to the North Pole by the NYPD; character photos with “Jammy the Snowman” and his trusty friend Mr. Penguin; free hot chocolate (while supplies last) at the new Avenue NYC Café located in the Jamaica Market at 90-40 160th St; discounts ranging from 10 to 20 percent at 13 retailers and restaurants; free giveaways distributed by volunteers along the Avenue; and hands-on art and crafts activities presented by a local artist Shanice Figeroux and the Home Depot. King Manor Museum, Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, and Edge School of the Arts will host drop-in activities on both Saturdays.

Additionally, the following special entertainment is slated for the following days:

Saturday, December 4th:

Saturday, December 11th:

The festivities will end when Cultural Collaborative Jamaica, another key community partner, lights their Annual Holiday tree at Rufus King Park at dusk on the 11th. More information on Cultural Collaborative Jamaica’s holiday tree lighting can be found at Cultural Collaborative Jamaica’s Instagram @culturalcollab.

“Last year was a terrible year for businesses, and consumers became more oriented than ever towards shopping online due to the pandemic. This year we wanted to do something special to encourage our customers to return to holiday shopping in our local downtown Jamaica, re-engage with their neighbors and support our local economy. A seasonal celebration for all, but a safe one that is spread out and mostly outdoors allowing for social distancing, seemed like the right way to go,” said Jennifer Furioli, Executive Director of the Jamaica Center BID. “We decided to amplify existing promotions and events that our friends at JCAL, King Manor and Cultural Collaborative were already doing, while adding a little seasonal panache of our own through additional giveaways and pop-up al fresco sidewalk entertainment.”

‘Tis the Season was made possible by a business support grant from the JFK International Air Terminal. If successful, it is something the BID hopes to repeat and grow in the future.

To learn more about the Jamaica Center BID and stay up-to-date on all happenings on Jamaica Avenue, make sure to visit jamaica.nyc, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

About the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District (BID)

Founded as the Jamaica District Management Association in 1979, the Jamaica Center BID is central to one of New York City’s fastest growing communities. Jamaica Center BID is the proud home to national and regional retailers, several major cultural and educational institutions as well as City, State and Federal Offices, and more than 400 businesses. The Jamaica Center BID seeks to maintain Jamaica Center as a thriving business hub and premier destination to shop, work, live and play. For more info visit jamaica.nyc.

'Tis the Season - Get Your Shopping Done....While Having Fun!

Join us Saturday, December 4 and Saturday, December 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout Jamaica Avenue for a new holiday event we are bringing to downtown Jamaica called 'Tis the Season! This event is designed to keep consumer dollars on Jamaica Avenue and to encourage shoppers to shop local this holiday season. There will be promotions that our small businesses will have for shoppers and our BID will enliven the sidewalk of our downtown with pop-up surprises ranging from fun giveaways, live music, a magician appearance and character photos with Jammy the Snowman and friends.

Activities Happening in downtown Jamaica on Saturday, December 4:

Below are the businesses that will be offering promotions at their locations this Saturday:

'Tis the Season Holiday Map
We're finalizing our 'Tis the Season Holiday Map and will update the final map on Friday, December 3 so that shoppers will know where to go to get some cool holiday giveaways and more on December 4 and 11.

Home Depot and Jamaica Center BID Partner to Decorate Small Business Storefront for the Holidays

Home Depot and Jamaica Center BID Partner to Decorate Small Business Storefronts for the Holidays 

Perhaps while walking down the Avenue you noticed that many of our small business storefronts have a little extra holiday flair this year. That’s all thanks to Home Depot, located at 92-30 168th St which partnered with our BID to add pizazz to the storefronts of 13 businesses. 

Earlier this month, a large team of volunteers from Home Depot, armed with strings of holiday lights, garlands of greenery, ribbons, and wreaths joined our BID team to visit Pretty Women (165-09 Jamaica Ave), MA Perfume (165-12 Jamaica Ave), Blue Angels Bridal (166-01 Jamaica Ave), Make Me Over Beauty Bar (166-11 Jamaica Ave), European Wax Center (166-16 Jamaica Ave), Don’t Panic (164-09 Jamaica Ave), DJ Electronics (161-11 Jamaica Ave), Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar (166-21 Jamaica Avenue), M&M Fashion (155-29 Jamaica Avenue) and Rincon Salvadoreno (92-14 149th Street) for an outdoor (and in some cases, indoor) holiday makeover. The team even filled an unsightly empty tree pit with a temporary holiday tree (we hope to fill the tree pit with a *real* tree later this year, thanks to the generous continued support of our tree planting efforts in collaboration with The Horticultural Society of New York by Council Member James Gennaro’s office).  

We’re grateful to Home Depot for its community-minded outlook. The store was helpful earlier this summer when we partnered with SEQ Clean-UpLinden Studios, and Cambria Heights Florist to beautify Parsons Public Space’s 39 planters by providing mulch, cleaning supplies, and leagues of volunteers to green the area. Now, in addition to their Holiday storefront efforts, Home Depot is also planning on participating in our ‘Tis the Season local shopping events taking place on Saturdays 12/4 and 12/11 with a hands-on activity table.  

View the rest of our E-newsletter here!

Jamaica Center Business Improvement District Holds Their 42nd Annual Meeting

Media Contact: 
Trey Jenkins 
Director of Marketing and Business Services 
[email protected] 
718-873-2506 

For Immediate Release: 

JAMAICA CENTER BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT HOLDS THEIR 42nd ANNUAL MEETING 

Jamaica, Queens, November 9, 2021 – The Jamaica Center BID celebrated their 42nd annual meeting today in a now familiar setting, via Zoom! 

Adam Behnke, Chief Business Officer at Queensboro FC, was the keynote speaker for this special event. He spoke about the plans of the team to build a stadium on the York College campus and the expected influx of new customers it would bring on game days to downtown businesses. Outgoing District 27 Council Member I. Daneek Miller, the Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Thomas Gretch, and the BID’s own Clean Team sanitation member Froylan Tehuitzil all received an honorary certificate from the BID for their unique contributions to downtown Jamaica and the business community. 

Executive Director of the Jamaica Center BID, Jennifer Furioli, provided a programmatic update on behalf of the Business Improvement District. In addition to contributing 16,923 hours of sanitation work in FY21, the BID removed 31,247 instances of graffiti from storefronts and public fixtures downtown, an increase of 37% from the year prior. The BID also supplemented the cleanliness of downtown by partnering with local civic groups and other businesses to tidy side streets and public spaces not included within the BID’s boundaries, but immediately adjacent. Abuela Neighborhood Maintenance, Friends of Rufus King Park, Cultural Collaborative Jamaica, SE Queens Cleanup, Lindon Studios and Cambria Heights Florist were all groups or businesses the BID partnered with in the last year for additional “cleaning and greening.” At the Annual Meeting, the BID also announced a new partnership with City Clean Up Corps to do a series of additional “side street cleanups” on weekends from December to mid-January. 

In addition to cleaning the downtown, the BID reported that it continued working to beautify the area, noting tree plantings and refurbishment of several tree pits that had occurred in the past year thanks to funding from Council Member Gennaro (District 24), expertise and implementation from the NYC Horticultural Society, and supplementary flower plantings paid for by the JFK International Air Terminal. The BID, in partnership with the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation and Save America’s Clocks also made progress restoring the historic street clock at the corner of Union Hall and Jamaica Avenue. The clock, which was removed in June for a complete restoration and repair after years of neglect, is expected to be returned to its rightful place by calendar year’s end. Council Member Miller and the Department of Small Business Services paid for the project. 

On the business support front, the BID continues to focus on the success of a key program that was introduced to the downtown Jamaica community last year in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, JBID-Alerts!, a cell phone notification program where the BID can rapidly notify businesses or property owners if there is a district-wide emergency on Jamaica Avenue or if timely Coronavirus news affecting businesses is released. Over the past year, participation in JBID-Alerts! grew by 22%. After Hurricane Ida, with the help of JBID-Alerts!, the BID was able to immediately send special emergency recovery and grant information into the hands of 124 businesses and quickly poll the business community on damage sustained. 

The BID also distributed over 7,500 PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and hundreds of bottles of hand sanitizer since last November to businesses and received a Strategic Impact Grant “SIG” from New York City’s Department of Small Business Services which allowed it to provide support to an additional 193 storefronts just outside of the main BID boundaries. In total, the SIG grant resulted in 386 individual business support “touchpoints” that included helping businesses apply for loans and grants in partnership with the Queens Chamber, raising awareness regarding nearby free business counseling centers, and coordinating marketing videos in partnership with video content creator and storyteller Alan Goldsher.  

Business safety was a key issue during the pandemic. The Jamaica Merchants Business Trespass Program was created in partnership with Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, the NYPD 103rd Precinct, elected officials and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz’s office which the BID signed on to be part of to help businesses that were receiving severe harassment. Since its launch, 14 new businesses have signed up. 

Downtown’s growing retail environment was the final focus of the meeting. Ms. Furioli pointed out the ribbon-cutting parade the BID held in February to celebrate new businesses that opened during (or immediately before) the pandemic. At the parade, five businesses were feted by a New Orleans-style brass band and community leaders waiving ribbons and holding I Love Jamaica Ave signs, while each business cut a celebratory ribbon. Additional new businesses that have opened since (or are expected to open shortly) include Target, Jollibee’s, coffee and pastry shop Avenue Café NYC, the Edge School of the Arts and BK Lobster. 

Moving into the next year, the BID will focus on continued restoration of the Avenue’s tree canopy, helping businesses understand and deal with City capital projects (notably the conversion of Parsons Public Space into a permanent plaza at Parsons and Jamaica Avenue, and the Department of Transportation’s recent installation of a pilot busway project on Jamaica Avenue), and welcoming residents of the many new apartment buildings to their local shopping corridor. 

The Annual Meeting concluded with final remarks from President Michael Hirschhorn. 

To learn more about the Jamaica Center BID and stay up-to-date on all happenings on Jamaica Avenue, make sure to visit jamaica.nyc, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

About the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District (BID) 

Founded as the Jamaica District Management Association in 1979, the Jamaica Center BID is central to one of New York City’s fastest growing communities. Jamaica Center BID is the proud home to national and regional retailers, several major cultural and educational institutions as well as City, State and Federal Offices, and more than 400 businesses. The Jamaica Center BID seeks to maintain Jamaica Center as a thriving business hub and premier destination to shop, work, live and play. For more info visit jamaica.nyc

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What a Difference a Bit of Green Makes!

This week downtown got a little greener. Last Saturday our BID planted dozens of bright yellow and red mums and ornamental cabbages and laid fresh mulch in the two tree pits in front of Beverly Hills Furniture (149-01 Jamaica Avenue). You may recall from past newsletters that these tree pits were previously empty without tree guards and compromised pits. Thanks to funding from District 24 Council Member James Gennaro’s office and partnership with the Horticultural Society of New York, we were able to plant two new downtown trees and install four decorative tree guards earlier this year. Saturday's fall flower planting (plant materials provided by a generous grant from JFKIAT) added the final flourish, beautifying a portion of this block for the better and enhancing the downtown shopper experience. This is just a taste of what we feel the entirety of Jamaica Avenue should look like. Restoring our tree canopy, beautifying ALL of our tree pits, and introducing a horticultural program that would delight shoppers, support businesses, and enhance our environment with seasonal plant displays would make a big difference in our downtown. For now, our team will continue making small, but significant changes such as these, with the hope that we will eventually, through sponsorships and government partner support, be able to grow Jamaica green!


On the same day of this exciting tree pit makeover, JBID partnered with Cultural Collaborative JamaicaFriends of Rufus King Park, and the Abuela Neighborhood Maintenance for ‘It’s My Park Day & Community Cleanup.’ We first cleared litter from tree pits, sidewalks and gutters on 163rd Street (mid-block parking garage) to Jamaica Avenue, filling dozens of trash bags and continuing our commitment to providing shoppers a positive first impression of our shopping corridor the minute they descend from the parking lot or subway. Then we planted hundreds of tulips and daffodil bulbs at both entrances of Rufus King Park and in front of King Manor Museum. Below are some photos from this past weekend. We look forward to bringing three more cleanup days to downtown Jamaica in the coming months! Thanks to JFKIAT’s grant, we were able to purchase all cleaning supplies and additional tulip bulbs and daffodil bulbs to supplement bulbs provided by NYC Parks and the amazing Friends of Rufus King Park. 

View the rest of our E-newsletter here!

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