A standing room only crowd packed into the Bulova Corporate Conference Center to listen to financial and energy experts share unique ways businesses can save money.
The attendees were treated to two panel discussions – one with financial representatives from the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Farrell Fritz and the city’s Small Business Services and one on energy with representatives from ENERActive Solutions, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Mercury Solar Systems, Con Ed and National Grid.
The panelists and seminar, which took place on Tuesday, October 19, broke down complicated information that business owners may not be aware of and gave them information on financial incentives that could save them a great deal of money when dealing with utilities, interest expense, real estate taxes, labor costs, moving expenses and buying/building and expanding.
“The Chamber is always looking for ways to keep our members informed about programs and services to lower their operation costs and give them a leg up on their competitors,” said Drew Manger, who is the Chair of the Chamber’s Business and Industry Committee.
During the financial part of the seminar, representatives spoke about the New York City Industrial Development Agency, which has helped hundreds of companies and not-for-profit organizations undertake capital expansions and become more competitive by locating within New York City or by expanding their existing operations. Its mission is to encourage economic development throughout the five boroughs, and to assist in the retention of existing jobs, and the creation and attraction of new ones.
Heidi Springer from EDC shared an example where one business worked with the agency on a $2.6 million deal, and the business received approximately $1.1 million in incentives.
Juanita Pair from the city’s Small Business Services, talked about a number of programs including Industrial Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP) and Relocation Employment Assistance Program (REAP) that businesses can take advantage of in order to save their companies thousands or sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of two decades.
“A lot of programs you can do over again so you want to keep that in mind as you develop your future plans,” Pair said.
After the financial panel finished, five panelists spoke about the different incentives businesses could take advantage from an energy standpoint.
Jessica DiDonato, an account executive at Con Ed, talked about Con Ed’s small business program and their commercial and industrial rebate program and the ways businesses could save money immediately and in the long-term by taking advantage of these programs.
“We try to make it as quick and easy for the customer to come into the program,” DiDonato said.
The FREE seminar took place on October 19 at the Buolva Corporate Center beginning at 8 a.m. where attendees could network and enjoy breakfast. After the seminar, attendees had the opportunity to visit expo tables and learn specifics from experts.
