COVID-19 Updates

A Letter From our Executive Director - E-newsletter

A Letter From our Executive Director
Recently, we debuted a new I “Love” Jamaica Ave storefront icon to express our fondness for the diverse businesses and many cultural organizations located in our Jamaica Avenue Business Improvement District. As I write this today, that little phrase "I Love Jamaica Ave" takes on new meaning and inspiration. During this tough time, when the community is trying to stay healthy, and businesses are trying to stay vibrant with significantly reduced customer traffic, it is important more than ever for us to love and support our Jamaica community and neighbors during this time.
For the past few days, our BID has been calling, writing, and visiting hundreds of our businesses to ensure that they are aware of the support materials that the Department of Small Business Services has prepared to help the City’s business community weather this challenge. We are tracking and sorting through the latest legislative developments, financial support instruments and NYC Department of Health and NYC Office of Emergency Management directives and compiling that info on our new “Covid-19 Info for Businesses” page on our website, Jamaica.nyc. We are passing along reliable and accurate information from City government and the CDC to our broader community of residents and shoppers via our social media channels and e-newsletter. And we are collaborating with our neighboring BIDs and other economic development organizations in Queens and City-wide to ensure that we are sharing ideas for assistance and solutions to address today’s challenges as thoughtfully as possible. We have already fielded several calls from our business community, and we are working on issuing a special COVID-19 dedicated support number for those businesses who wish to speak to a “real person” because they may not feel comfortable using a computer to explore our new Covid-19 Business Page on our website or the many excellent City of New York online resources.
This is all to say that it has always been our job to look out for Jamaica Ave (see our boundaries here). We Love Jamaica Ave and more than ever, our Jamaica Center BID team is working hard to ensure that our community gets through this.
Kind regards,
Jennifer Furioli
Executive Director
View the rest of our E-newsletter here!

Updated Novel Corona Virus (Covid19) Info for Business and Public - E-newsletter

Dear Downtown Jamaica business owners, shoppers, customers and regular readers,
We know you are faced with a lot of information from many sources right now regarding the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). That’s why, in lieu of our usual e-blast, we are issuing a special streamlined email with pertinent information from official City sources detailing how you can protect yourself, your neighbors, and your business during this time. We hope you find it helpful.

Helpful Information for the General Public

Helpful Information for NYC’s Business Community
New York City’s Department of Small Business Services “SBS” (nyc.gov/sbs) has updated its home page to feature a variety of resources and up-to-date information regarding novel Coronavirus specifically for business owners.
If you need immediate capital, you should contact one of SBS’s Business Solutions Centers to connect with a network of 40+ lenders. You can visit any location citywide (Find a location: maps.nyc.gov/sbs) but for convenience sake, the Jamaica location is at 90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor, Jamaica, NY 11435, Phone: 718-570-8500.)
Additionally, a new bipartisan spending package was just passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate. This package, when it is implemented, will provide $7 billion in federal funds to assist small businesses that suffer economic harm from the Coronavirus outbreak. You can read more about the bill here.
Other useful resources:
Download a Business Continuity Planning Checklist;
Download a Business Planning Checklist for Pandemics

Dropping Some Knowledge on Jamaica Ave - E-Newsletter

Jamaica Center BID Makes an Appearance at Queens High School for Sciences' Career Day
This week, Jahnavi Aluri, our Program Manager, and Fred Green, our Admin and Operations Manager, participated in the Queens High School for the Sciences’ Career Day to share their professional and educational experiences with these gifted high school students. Jahnavi and Fred answered questions on a broad range of topics ranging from retail on Jamaica Avenue to how our BID partners with city government. Fred’s prior experience serving in both FEMA and the Special Services sparked a lot of excitement. Additional inquiries were made by curious students as to whether our office provides free lunch to BID employees. The answer to that, dear reader, is no. All of our nonprofit’s funding is used to support district services such as supplemental sanitation, beautification and small business support, rather than our growling stomachs (check our annual report which contains a financial statement breakdown of our expenses here). However, all of us on the team love to purchase our lunches from the many great restaurants on Jamaica Avenue. Lately we have been traipsing to the newly-opened Plaintain Werks at 147-21 Jamaica Avenue. If you missed the article about this cute restaurant’s recent opening, check our past article here.
Our BID is more convinced than ever that our future is in great hands after liaising with these bright stars at the Queens High School for the Sciences. We hope our team helped inspire a new generation of potential BID managers, planners, and policy makers. Founded in 2002, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College is one of the nine specialized high schools in New York City, which admits students in NYC that based on scores attained on the Specialized High School Admissions Examination.
View the rest of our E-newsletter here!

Eaaaaaaaaaaaaats! A Seafood Restaurant Coming Soon to Jamaica Avenue - E-newsletter

Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar
It’s almost open! In just a few weeks anyone craving New Orleans-style seafood will be able to get their fill when Hook & Reel opens on the Ave (161-21 Jamaica Avenue). We’re so excited to welcome this new dining establishment to the neighborhood; Hook and Reel will provide a spot for patrons looking for late night eats and drinks on the Avenue (along with a lunch menu too). Po-boys, King crab, sausage, sweet potato fries, hush puppies, clam chowder are just a few of the tantalizing options we saw while perusing the online menu, not to mention the extensive drink section. We hope you’ll support this newcomer, along with all of Jamaica Avenue’s businesses. Once open, Hook & Reel's operating hours will be Sunday - Thursday from 12 - 10 p.m. and Friday - Saturday from 12 p.m. - 12 a.m.
And speaking of Jamaica Avenue businesses, in case you missed it in last week’s newsletter, check out the “I Love Jamaica Ave” decals we posted on dozens of stores downtown earlier this month. “I Love Jamaica Avenue” is one of the BID’s many marketing initiatives designed to encourage foot traffic to, and support of, our downtown business community. Readers: what Jamaica Avenue businesses do YOU love? Send us a selfie here at one of the businesses in our BID district (Jamaica Avenue) from Sutphin Boulevard to 169th Street, and we might just send you your very own “I Love Jamaica Avenue” mug and a reusable shopping tote.
View the rest of our E-newsletter here!

❤️This Valentine's Day Show Some Love to Jamaica Avenue!❤️ - E-newsletter

Show Some Love on Jamaica Avenue!
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we have produced these cute “I Love Jamaica Avenue” decals, which we are providing to every business (large or small) on Jamaica Avenue today to display in their storefront window.
A vibrant Jamaica Avenue business community employs our neighbors and keeps our shopping corridor active, safe, and vibrant with a variety of retail, services, eateries, entertainment and foot traffic. When considering where to spend your shopping dollars, remember to show Jamaica Avenue some love. It’s an investment in this community that pays off.
View the rest of our E-newsletter here!

Black History Month Film Fest Comes to Downtown Jamaica - E-newsletter

QueensUnderground718.com's International Black History Film Fest!
The Jamaica Center BID is proud to sponsor QueensUnderground718.com's International Black History Month Film Fest on Saturday, February 22! Guest tickets include a Red Carpet Film Fest with movies, poetry, music, live entertainment, community awards, vendors, food, cocktails/mocktails and raffle with prizes. Stop by and say hello to our very own Fred Green (Operations Manager) who will be there with BID materials.

View the rest of our E-newsletter here!

Procrastination Station! - E-newsletter

Relief for last-minute holiday shoppers!

Delayed in your Holiday Shopping? We’re here to help! We’ve all been guilty of procrastinating at one time or another. If you didn’t get around to shop for your Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza or Festivus celebrations yet, no matter! Jamaica Center BID is a safe space for last-minute holiday shoppers. From December 14-25 we are offering a slew of shopping support services crafted specifically with procrastinators in mind!
Procrastinator Bonus Bags: Sunday, December 15 - 24 (All Day Long):
Shop or dine at any business on Jamaica Avenue* from the 15th - 24th and YOU just might be the lucky person handed a Jamaica Avenue Seasonal Swag Bag packed with fun winter surprises and a gift card for extra shopping on the Ave! In this case, procrastinating pays off! 
*Bonus bag promotion applies within BID boundaries of Jamaica Ave from 169th to Sutphin Ave and Union Hall between Jamaica Ave and Archer. One bag will be given to a randomly-selected local shopper daily.
Ugly Sweater Selfie Jam:
Visit our two Ugly Sweater selfie stations at 159-26 Jamaica Avenue and show us your ugly sweater game. Snap a pic, then post to social media tagging @jamcenterbid on Instagram or Jamaica Avenue on Facebook with hashtag #UglySweaterJam. In early January we’ll post all ugly sweaters on our Instagram story soliciting votes for the best pic. The winner gets a $50 gift card for even more shopping on Jamaica Avenue! What a great way to start the new year!
Last-Minute Gift Ideas:
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. From December 14 -23 we will be posting a curated list of gifts you can purchase on the Ave!
Ultimate Hour Shopping Directory:
Alright. You’re really pushing it with the belated shopping aren’t you? Download our promotional flyer with a listing of stores open on the 24th to meet your *truly* last-minute needs.

Trick or Treat on the Ave! - E-newsletter

We're celebrating Halloween on the Avenue with a new special event on Saturday, October 26 at Rufus King Park (150-29 Jamaica Avenue) with a variety of FREE family fun activities including music, arts and crafts! Afterward, be sure to support local businesses for FREE treats and shop while you're there. Costumes are encouraged! Please help spread the word!

 

Official Schedule for Family Fun on the Ave This Saturday!

Schedule of Events for
Family Fun on the Ave – Saturday, August 17
#Funontheave

The following free activities will take place the entire time of Family Fun on the Ave (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.):

Noon - 1 p.m. 

1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Family Fun on the Ave!

Weekend Walks returns to Downtown Jamaica Saturday, August 17 on Jamaica Avenue (Parsons to 162nd Street) as the Jamaica Center BID enlivens the street with games and activities for kids and families.
Slated activities will include a music performance from the Afro-Latineers, a dance performance tap from Omar Edwards, Miss Keila's Jukebox Music, life-sized games, a mini-golf course, a kids’ corner (including hands-on science and reading activities via the Uni Project), community vendors and plenty of movable tables and chairs for lingering.
Did you miss our first Family Fun on the Ave event on July 13? If so here is a photo gallery of the event and a taste of what to expect on August 17!

Official Schedule for Family Fun on the Ave This Saturday!

Schedule of Events for
Family Fun on the Ave – Saturday, July 13
#Funontheave

The following free activities will take place the entire time of Family Fun on the Ave (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.):

From 11:15 a.m. - Noon:

Noon – 2 p.m.

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Family Fun On The Ave Event Flyer

Top