By Bill Parry
More than 100 businesses gathered to exhibit at the Long Island City Partnership’s Business-to-Business Trade Show and Luncheon at Astoria World Manor last Friday. The 28th annual trade show attracts thousands of community members each year in a showcase displaying the mixed-use landscape of LIC, ranging from business services and real estate, to hotels and health care, to 3-D printing and catering.
“LIC’s business landscape is incredibly diverse, including thousands of businesses across the industrial, commercial, tech, cultural, tourism and residential sectors,” LIC Partnership President Elizabeth Lusskin said. “The exhibitors at this year’s Trade Show mirrored that diversity, with exhibitor participants ranging from City Growers and Doughnut Plant to The Floating Hospital and Shapeways 3D printing service, and we were delighted to honor Jamestown and the LIC YMCA at our luncheon—two important parts of the community who continue to make great contributions to our neighborhood.”
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) delivered the luncheon’s keynote address in front of more than 350 business, government and community leaders.
“Walking around the LIC Partnership Trade Show, it was clear that this year is bigger and better than ever,” Maloney said. “The sheer number of innovative and exceptional businesses who participated this year was a joy to see. New York is truly the greatest city in the world, and western Queens is a booming center of business.”
This year’s event honored Jamestown L.P. President Michael Phillips and LIC YMCA Executive Director Ebony Conely-Young. Jamestown created a model for “repurposing” the old Gimbels warehouse and turning it into the Falchi Building after a multimillion-dollar capital investment program. Now the Falchi Building, at 31-00 47th Ave., is home to Juice Press, Coalition for Queens, Astoria Distilling Co., Stolle Bakery and many other tenants.
“Long Island City is a hub for innovation and collaboration, with its increasingly diverse mix of businesses coming together, often all under one roof,” Phillips said. “On behalf of Jamestown, I am honored to accept this award from the partnership, who have helped set and maintain an ambitious trajectory for the neighborhood.”
The LIC YMCA received the William D. Modell Community Service Award for its life-enhancing programming and community-based efforts focusing on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. To date, the Y has delivered more than $54 million in free programs to New Yorkers.
“The Long Island City YMCA is honored to have received the William D. Modell Community Service Award at this year’s annual Trade Show and Luncheon,” Ebony Conely-Young said. “We’re looking forward to continuing to work together with the LIC Partnership as we strive to build a better LIC community.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
