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AGENCY TESTIMONY
NYC Small Business Services supports East Harlem 125th Street BID formation
0:03:34
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4 min
Calvin Brown, Deputy Commissioner for Neighborhood Development at NYC Small Business Services, testifies in support of the East Harlem 125th Street Business Improvement District formation. He outlines SBS's commitment to neighborhood development, the BID formation process, and the specific support for this BID effort.
- SBS has awarded over $1,800,000 in grants to incentivize new BIDs and nearly $11,000,000 to support small BIDs during the Adams administration.
- The East Harlem 125th Street BID formation effort has achieved broad-based support, with 74% of the area's total assessed value, 50% of total properties, and 34% of commercial tenants backing the proposal.
- SBS believes this BID will provide much-needed services and support to businesses within the proposed district.
Calvin Brown
0:03:34
Good morning chair Brennan and members of the finance committee.
0:03:37
I am Calvin Brown, the deputy commissioner for neighborhood development and I'm joined here by my colleagues Emily Edward who is the executive director for our bid program and Leslie Velasquez who is the director of bid development and legislation.
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We are here to testify in support of the East Harlem 120 Fifth Street Business Improvement District.
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At SBS, we are committed to unlocking economic potential and create an economic security for all New Yorkers through business services, workforce opportunities, and neighborhood development.
0:04:09
We partner with community based organizations such as business improvement districts to build thriving neighborhoods across the five boroughs.
0:04:17
During the Adams administration, we have awarded over 1,800,000 in grant funds to incentivize the creation of new bids and nearly 11,000,000 to support small bids.
0:04:28
For more than forty years, bids have been a value valuable and proven partner in commercial revitalization and economic development across the city.
0:04:37
SBS supervises all active bid formation and expansion efforts serving as advisor advisors and resources for the community interested in developing or expanding an existing bid.
0:04:50
We are careful to ensure that each steering committee we work with adheres to our planning process and policies, solicit robust community input, and performs extensive outreach to collect and demonstrate broad based support across stakeholder groups.
0:05:07
Moreover, we are cognizant of the unique nature of each community we assist and aim to empower local stakeholders to make determinations on proposed services, boundaries, budget size that best suits their community needs and appetite and ability to pay the assessments.
0:05:26
While we are always in part some strong plan and principles and shared data and best practices, when we're working with any bid formation effort, we recognize that the power and effectiveness of bids rest in their unmatched understanding of the local needs and issues.
0:05:43
SPS has invested in the East Harlem neighborhood since 2017.
0:05:48
For nearly a decade now, we have funded local CBDOs including the New Harlem East Merchant Association now known as Uptown Grand Central.
0:05:58
We are cognizant of the changes and challenges in this neighborhood and which is why we are especially excited to work for this exciting bid to come to fruition.
0:06:10
Like any other bid formation that SBS has overseen, the East Harlem 120 Fifth Street formation effort involved numerous meetings and consultations with local stakeholders throughout the planning and outreach phases.
0:06:25
After an extension extensive outreach effort and close coordination with all key parties, SBS determined that the documented support among all stakeholder groups, 74% of the area's total assessed value, 50% of the total properties, and 34% of commercial tenants was sufficient to start the legislative process.
0:06:47
The levels of outreach achieved by the East 120 Fifth Street bid effort meets the broad based support SPS requires before any effort advances to the legislative phase.
0:06:58
As required by law, the East one hundred and twenty fifth Street steering committee mailed the summary of of the City Council resolution no less than ten days and no more than thirty days before today's hearing to the following parties, each owner of real property within the proposed district at the address shown on the latest city assessment roll, such other persons as are registered with the city to receive tax bills concerning real property within the district and tenants of each building within the proposed district.
0:07:29
The steering committee also published notice of this hearing in a newspaper in general circulation in the city per the legal requirement.
0:07:37
I would like to acknowledge and thank deputy speaker Ayala as well as council member Salam for their ongoing support of East 120 Fifth Street bid formation effort.
0:07:46
SBS believes that this bid will provide the much needed services and support to the businesses within the proposed district.
0:07:53
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge that representatives of the bid formation effort are present here today to testify and address any specific questions that I am unable to answer.
0:08:04
And thank you for your time.