By Howard Koplowitz
The Queens Chamber of Commerce has set up a committee to comb the economic stimulus package in an effort to identify projects that local business can work on.
“With all the money coming in, we want to be sure that nothing falls through the cracks,” said Mary Vavruska, co−chair of the chamber’s Small Business Committee and the owner of TCE Systems Inc., a telecommunications business in Astoria. “It’s a very exciting challenge.”
“Our first goal is to assure a good part of Queens businesses get a piece of the action,” she said.
Neil Levin, the other co−chair and the owner of Astoria−based Webline Designs, a Web site design company, said he was happy to help out the chamber.
“I think it’s a good thing that the chamber is stepping up and trying to find out what’s going on out there,” he said. ”We’ll be looking at how we can take advantage of what the government is offering our small businesses. It will be our responsibility to get that information and to disseminate it to as many businesses as we can.”
A portion of the $261 million in stimulus funds given to the city was allocated for various borough projects, including restoration of Queens Plaza, rebuilding the Rockaway boardwalk and reconstructing 32nd Avenue and College Point Boulevard.
Aside from the projects, the stimulus provides tax incentives, including breaks for businesses that buy new equipment.
“Some businesses might find this as a way of purchasing some equipment that would make them more competitive,” Vavruska said.
She said all types of business can be employed to work on the projects, including telecommunications, computer software, paper, public relations and marketing.
“You have to dig deeply to get the connections, but they are there,” Vavruska said.
The committee was scheduled to hold its first meeting this week.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
