By Jeremy Walsh
With the economic downturn threatening to worsen, the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Borough President Helen Marshall unveiled a plan to increase the amount of commerce between borough businesses at the Bulova Corporate Center Monday.
“Keep It in Queens” will feature an online database of Queens businesses that anyone can search, as well as an incentive program for chamber members to convince new businesses to join the database. The site, www.keepitinqueens.com, also went live on Monday.
“These incentives are critical in these economic times to encourage Queens businesses to do business with one another,” said Robert Parese, the chamber president.
Marshall said she and former Borough President Claire Shulman found themselves discussing a similar possibility years ago when a new airport terminal was built using supplies and workers from New Jersey.
“I'm glad the Queens Chamber of Commerce has taken up the mantle,” she said.
Robert Lieber, deputy mayor for economic development, said the Queens economy has grown “dramatically” from the kind of private investment the mayor's office has encouraged, noting major developers could use the database to find contractors for projects like the Willets Point redevelopment.
“They, too, can easily source materials right here in the borough,” he said.
“It's business development that's going to help in the economic recovery,” said state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing).
Veronica Rose, an electrician who owns the Jamaica-based Aurora Electric Inc., said she was confident the database would “set a precedent throughout the city.”
“It will create a power surge of opportunity for business in the community,” she said.
The announcement came along with calls by Marshall, Shulman and Lieber for renewed support of the Willets Point redevelopment plan, which was approved last week by the City Planning Commission and now faces a City Council vote Nov. 12.
“This area must be remediated and it must be remediated now,” Lieber said.
Shulman said the number of jobs the project would create in this economic climate is “excruciatingly important.”
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
