Posted by Sharon Davidson on 02/07/2009 under Doing Business | 
WHAT IS A BID?
New York City is home to the nation’s largest, most comprehensive network of Business Improvement Districts (BID’s) in the country. The city’s BID’s annually contribute over $80 million worth of services to more than 70,000 businesses in neighborhoods across the five boroughs.
A Business Improvement District or BID is a formal organization made up of property owners and commercial tenants who are dedicated to promoting business development and improving an area’s quality of life. BID’s deliver supplemental services such as sanitation and maintenance, public safety and visitor services, marketing and promotional programs, capital improvements, and beautification for the area - all funded by a special assessment paid by property owners within the district. Since its inception over twenty years ago, the City’s BID program has contributed over $830 million in supplemental services to invigorate our neighborhoods.
The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is the lead agency responsible for BID creation and oversight. If you would like more information or to learn more about SBS and the BID creation process, visit www.nyc.govdistrictdevelopement.
For a complete and updated list of other BID’s in New York City , please visit the link below.
www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/html/neighborhood/bid.shtml
Have you tried Dialing 311 for Non-emergency Situations?
Posted by Sharon Davidson on 02/02/2009 under Doing Business |
SUPPLEMENTAL SANITATION
Sidewalk Cleaning
Our sanitation crew at work during one of our many snowstorms
Through a yearly contract we hold with Atlantic Maintenance Corporation, a sanitation worker can be seen 7 days a week sweeping the avenue wearing a blue uniform with the BID Logo. He works hard to supply the district with supplemental sanitation services. He sweeps the District’s sidewalks and curbs, shovels snow and removes illegal posters from the Avenue’s street furniture, lines our trash receptacles, empties full trash cans, and places garbage on the curb for pickup by the NYC Department of Sanitation 350 days a years. Businesses, property owners and residents should contact the BID though our administrative offices at: 718-783-1685 to report sanitation-related problems .
MARKETING
Last year, the North Flatbush Avenue BID presented a North Flatbush Avenue Sidewalk Sale in July. The sidewalk sales allows retailers to bring their merchandise directly to the shopper, increasing their visibility in the district and giving them an opportunity to attract new customers. The merchants provided discounted merchandise and give- a- ways and the BID provided free activities during the day. Our merchants are given the the opportunity to buy into our Sponsor a Banner Program. 10% of our banners will display the merchants logo on all 30 of our decorative banners that adorn the district. The BID also provides the merchants with quarterly merchant meetings with keynote speakers who can explain options for the merchants in ways to advertise and promote their business. The BID also advertises quarterly in the local newspapers. The BID has many new intiatives in store for the 2009-2010 fiscal year to promote the avenue.
Facebook: The BID signed onto a social networking site in 2009 with the creation of a Facebook page. Through Facebook, the BID can reach a broad spectrum of interested individuals and much like the website, provide a clear line of communication and feedback from interested parties and stakeholders. If you are on Facebook and would like to be a Fan of our FaceBook page - click HERE
The BID is also on TWITTER. On Twitter, we provide our followers all the latest traffic updates of the day, and news and recent blogs about our district. If you are Twittering and would like to follow us, click HERE
BANNER AND HOLIDAY LIGHTING DECORATIONS
The BID installs streetlight banners featuring the North Flatbush Avenue logo . In 2009, the BID hung Holiday Snowflakes along the light poles from Atlantic Avenue to Plaza Street from Thanksgiving through the New Year. The holiday lighting gives Flatbush Avenue a festive feeling and a unique identity during the holiday shopping season. The banners are sponsored by local merchants and provide a long term source of advertising.
just one of the many snowflakes that adorn our district
NEWSLETTER
The North Flatbush Avenue BID prints a yearly newsletter and annual report to promote BID services and programming. It also includes information about our merchants, our yearly fiscal report and information on upcoming events. Our BID Newsletter coincides with our June Annual Meeting. Anyone can request a Newsletter by calling the BID’s administrative office or by going to our website and downloading a copy HERE.
E-NEWS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
The North flatbush Avenue BID sends out a Monthly E-News Newsletter that is sent to neighborhood groups, residents and property owners. If you would like to be added to o ur mailing list and would like torecive our free E-News Newsletter, please sign up with your email address at the HOME page of this website. Its very easy. Our E-News Newsletter let you know about new store openings, closing and up to the minute news in our district. If you would like to see an archive of our monthly newsletters, please click HERE.
BUSINESS DEVELOPEMENT
The BID is a resource for merchants who want to improve, expand or reposition their business. For 2009/2010. the BID will host quarterly Free Breakfast Merchant Workshops, a time when merchants have a chance to network and discuss issues facing their business. They can hear from city agencies on initiatives or programs which could effect their business. The BID also makes referrals to city agencies such as NYC’s Department of Small Business Services and other agencies.
ADVOCACY
From unshoveled snowy streets to cracked sidewalks to major capital improvements, the BID works with stakeholders and government agencies regarding repairs and improvements that will make North Flatbush Avenue an even better place to shop, live and dine. Additionally, if a BID merchant or property owner is having an issue that requires government action, the BID administrative office can reach out to the appropriate agency. The BID maintains contact with all of its elected officials and with representatives of several state and city agencies.
In 2o08, Council member David Yassky secured $200,000 for the BID’s new streetscape plan of our Triangle Parks that run from Plaza Street to Atlantic Avenue. In 2009, Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz awarded the BID $200,000 for the BID’s streetscape plan. and Councilwomen Letitia James awarded the BID $200,000 towards the renovation of our Carlton Avenue Triangle, which is part of our streetscape design plan. The BID is currently in the planning stages and has provided the community with a free public community forum for their input, ideas and comments which have been incorporated into the new design. The BID hired W- Architecture and Landscape Architecture LLC who has created a new plan for our district incorporating all of the attendees ideas and comments. The presentation of the new streetscape design plan was shown in a 40 minute slide show by Barbara Wilks, founder of W at our June 24th Annual Meeting. If you would like to view the renderings for this project, please click HERE. If you would like a cd copy of the entire slide show presentation, please contact our offices.
Useful Links to help your business:.
Accion
Brooklyn Business Library
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation
Business Outreach Center Network, Inc.
CAMBA Small Business Services
New York Business Development Corporation
NYC Business Solutions
NYC Department of Small Business Services
NYC Financial Network Action Consortium
New York State Small Business Information
New York Workforce One Centers
Project Enterprise
Small Business Resource Center at the New York Public Library
United States Small Business Administration
Women’s Venture Fund
