Chamber Distributes 500K Pieces of PPE to Business Groups

COVER STORY ESD HEAD DISCUSSES LEADERSHIP AMID COVID

BY BENJAMIN FANG

The last 11 months have been intense for Eric Gertler, president and CEO of Empire State Development (ESD). Nominated by Governor Andrew Cuomo for the post in August 2019, Gertler has led New York’s economic development agency since last September.

Though the past year has “flown by,” Gertler has managed the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic and will help the state recover from its current crises.

“Never did I expect the range of issues we’d have to deal with, particularly what the agency had to address and confront over the last four months,” he said. “You never know what to expect. You play the cards you’re dealt.”

Prior to being appointed as the head of ESD, Gertler served as executive chairman of U.S. News and World Report. He was also a managing member of Ulysses Ventures, a multi-strategy investment fund based in New York City.

This is Gertler’s second stint in public service. He previously served as an executive vice president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

The former media executive, entrepreneur and published author noted that there are many similarities between the public and private sectors. He said Governor Cuomo in particular has “many of the same priorities that we have in the private sector,” including showing results and moving the ball forward.

In the public sector, the main difference is that officials need to think more multi-dimensionally, Gertler said, and consider all of the different constituent groups. “That’s what makes the public sector challenging,” he said, “but also very exciting.”

Coming into the role, Gertler said his personal goal was to lead the agency to do the most it can. In terms of agency priorities, he wanted to focus on increasing employment and opportunities

ESD president & CEO Eric Gertler speaks at 2019 PITCHNY, a program to cultivate homegrown talent by expanding pathways for aspiring creators, as well as showcase diverse communities through film, TV and creative content.

for all New Yorkers, attracting businesses and supporting large infrastructure programs.

Other goals included boosting the “I Love NY” initiative and building up the life science industry in the state.

In March, the COVID-19 pandemic struck New York, forcing the agency to transition to activities to support the state’s response. Gertler said ESD was involved in defining essential workers and businesses, monitoring the supply chain and sourcing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies.

The agency also identified real estate or warehouses to store equipment and alternative locations for patients and health care workers.

As the state recovers from the health and economic crises, Empire State Development will continue to focus not only on jobs and attracting businesses, but also supporting small businesses.

Gertler said the agency has worked to ensure federal money goes to small businesses, which make up 98 percent of businesses in New York. The state created the New York Forward LoanFund program, which helps businesses with 20 employees or fewer, particularly those unable to access federal dollars and minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs). Additionally, ESD is helping businesses that want to retool and provide different types of PPE and COVID-related equipment. The agency has provided state grants and credits for those efforts.

While Gertler acknowledged the challenges New York will face on an economic front, he said he is bullish and optimistic in the long term about the state’s future.

“History is a great teacher,” he said, noting that the state came back after 9/11, the 2008 recession and Superstorm Sandy. “This state recovers after crises. It’ll do it again.”

The reason for the state’s success, the agency president said, is because New York is “inhabited and filled with smart, talented, innovative and resilient people.” “It starts with the people,” he added. “We are New York tough.”

Gertler said New York’s economy is not only important for the state, but for the whole country. He noted that before COVID-19, New York had close to a $1.7 trillion economy.

“I have no doubt New York State will get through the challenges,” he said, “and once again lead in terms of its economic resurgence.”

As for attracting businesses, Gertler said a lot of companies still want to come back to the state and grow here because they see New York as the optimal place to set up a business.

While life in the post-COVID world will be different, companies still want to be in a place that has access to the right talent and business environment. “New York has all of that,” he said.

As the state continues to reopen in phases, Gertler said he’s seen what has happened in other states in terms of rapidly rising coronavirus cases and deaths. While he doesn’t know if New York will see another outbreak, he believes government needs to prepare for the worst.

The basic game plan, he said, is to manage the health and safety of New Yorkers, while also being ready with equipment and guidelines in place. “We are preparing contingency plans to ensure that we are even better prepared in the event there is another outbreak,” he

QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS CHAMBER DISTRIBUTES 500K MASKS TO BIZ GROUPS

BY BENJAMIN FANG

As New York City moves toward the third phase of its reopening, small businesses are being supplied with millions of face coverings for employees and customers.

Last month, the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) sent the Queens Chamber of Commerce 500,000 face masks to give out to Queens businesses. Altogether, SBS has given out more than four million masks to organizations and stores across the city.

“New York City means business,” SBS Commissioner Jonnel Doris said in a statement. “Our small businesses are tough, resilient and they are coming back.”

In addition to giving out 500,000 masks, the chamber distributed 20,000 face shields courtesy of NewYork-Presbyterian. They also gave out flyers in numerous languages that contain resources and guidance on safety measures and reopening.

The Queens Chamber’s headquarters at the Bulova Corporate Center in East Elmhurst served as the main distribution hub.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Queens and they have been among the hardest hit by COVID-19, here in the epicenter of the epicenter of the pandemic,” said Tom Grech, president and CEO of the chamber. “It is essential that we help them navigate this reopening safely so we can get Queens back to business.”

Starting last Tuesday, representatives from local business improvement districts, business associations and other groups arrived to pick up boxes of face masks and shields.

Among them was Jennifer Furioli, executive director of the Jamaica Center BID. She said she sees her organization’s job as expediting and making things easier for local businesses.

Stores are already trying to communicate with employees, communicate with customers and figure out all their new systems and logistics, she said, so face masks

The Queens Chamber team gave out free PPE to business groups to distribute to their members.

are just “one less thing they have to immediately worry about.”

“Our businesses have been really diligent about following the rules and wanting to do the right thing,” she said. “But it’s been like drinking from a firehose for them.”

Furioli said businesses in the area are enthusiastic and positive. Even at the worst point of the crisis, she said she wasn’t getting a lot of distressed calls.

“They’re just trying to do their best, trying to work with the situation that they have,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of excitement now that these businesses are ready to open their doors and begin engaging with customers again.”

Dian Yu, executive director of the Downtown Flushing BID, said giving out face masks during phase two is especially important because retail stores and beauty salons, places with a “more personal touch,” are reopening.

Seeing the spike in COVID-19 cases in other states across the country, Yu said businesses want to do everything to avoid another widespread outbreak.

“People need to not forget we are still in the first wave,” he said. “The first wave is not over yet. We’ve got to be careful.”

In Flushing, Yu said while businesses are slowly reopening, they are still struggling. One big problem is that customers are not fully back. He foresees the restaurant industry in particular will struggle until around November.

“When people are fully back to patronize all the businesses, that’s the crucial thing,” Yu said.

Furioli noted that when the COVID-19 pandemic started, all of the economic development organizations and professionals throughout the city “clicked together.” They formed a Facebook group for coronavirus response and recovery to share information and answer questions.

On a hyperlocal level, the Queens Chamber coordinated all of the borough’s economic development organizations. That was important, Furioli said, because Queens was the hardest hit and has a high immigrant population.

They initially met virtually twice a week to share materials, develop a deeper relationship and work in collaboration.

For example, many businesses complained that customers were not adhering to the six-foot distancing rule, especially when speaking to staff. The Jamaica Center BID’s graphic designer made a poster, uploaded it and shared it with other groups to use.

“There have been no egos involved,” Furioli said. “We have all worked together.”

Yu said because COVID-19 is the “invisible enemy” and it’s everywhere, everyone is collectively fighting it.

“Everybody has to do their share and continue to fight this disease in every way we can,” he said.

Ikhwan Rim, president of the Union Street Small Business Association in Flushing, said knowing that the local chamber of commerce is helping groups like his offers some comfort.

“Especially our association, most are mom-and-pop stores,” Rim said. “It will help a lot to protect themselves and our customers too.”

Furioli urged people to make an effort to shop locally as much as possible.

“These businesses need it more than ever,” she said. “It was important before to have a ‘buy local’ mindset. Now, it’s critical.”