Brooklyn's Progress
December 2007/January 2008

Arimed Honored by Brooklyn Boro Prez
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Member Arimed, an orthotics and prosthetics firm, was honored recently by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and his Advisory Committee on Disability Issues for its history of employing individuals with disabilities.

According to Tim Evans, Arimed’s chief operating officer, “All employees are treated with respect and appreciation for the work they perform.”

Businesses that employ individuals with disabilities are doing the right thing, said Mr. Markowitz, but also making a wise business investment because when the labor pool shrinks after millions of baby boomers begin retiring in the next few years there will be an even greater demand for trained workers.

Susan Doban Architect, PC Project Named New York Construction Winner
The Culinary Arts Center designed by Chamber Member Susan Doban Architect, PC, for Monroe College in New Rochelle will receive a Best of 2007 Award from New York Construction magazine.

The Culinary Arts Center will be recognized in the small project category at the magazine’s Best of 2007 Awards Breakfast on December 13, 2007. The facility also will be featured in the publication’s 11th Annual Awards Issue in December.

“The overall goal of the project was to transform a former auto repair shop into a premiere culinary arts facility - from design through construction - in five months,” said Susan Doban, president of Susan Doban Architect, PC.
Fellow Chamber Member Holt Construction Co. of Pearl River, New York, was the construction manager for the project.

Park Avenue Building and Roofing Supplies Celebrates Flagship’s First Year
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Chamber Champion Park Avenue Building and Roofing Supplies held a week of activities in October to thank its Brooklyn customers for a year of support.

The company’s flagship store, located at 2120 Atlantic Avenue in Ocean Hill-Brownsville, held a week of sales, free homeowner “how-to” classes, demos, and giveaways.
“Everything we hoped would happen here, has happened,” said Park Avenue’s CEO, Bob Groeninger. “We’ve become the community resource for home renewal and repair projects. This is our way of saying thanks.”

The family-owned business opened its flagship store a year ago in addition to their store at 525 Park Avenue in Bedford Stuyvesant.

SBA Comes to the Aid of CPA’s
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced it will partner with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to train owners of small accounting firms on SBA products and services. SBA and AICPA have signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum to share resources to help start, maintain and expand small businesses.

The SBA and AICPA alliance will accelerate the start-up of small accounting firms through training and outreach services, becoming service and resource partners, events, liaisons and the flow of current news and information between agencies.

This agreement, the first of its kind for SBA and the accounting sector, will last for two years. It was spearheaded by Regional Administrator William Manger of Region II located in New York City, NY.

Small Business Training Funds Deadline is Dec. 13
The New York City Department of Small Business Services is offering Business Solutions Training Funds, which provide New York City employers with funding and support to develop the skills of their workers and promote career advancement for their employees.

The benefits of the funds are clear: you will receive up to $400,000 provided to fund 60% of eligible training costs, with the employer paying the balance. Small Businesses (fewer than 100 employees) can receive funding for up to 70% of training costs to cover a wide variety of training.
To receive the full application, companies must first complete a 10-minute pre-application. The pre-application for the next round will be available on Dec. 13. The city offers access to free one-on-one assistance throughout the application process. For more information, call 311 and ask for “Training Funds.”

Sovereign Bank Inaugurates New Location in Brooklyn
Community and political leaders helped Sovereign officially inaugurate its new Court Street Community Banking Office in Downtown Brooklyn recently. The event took place as part of the 33rd annual Atlantic Antic street festival and the thousands of visitors who strolled past the new location were greeted by energetic Sovereign team members who served visitors with specialty ice cream and cake, complete with a Sovereign logo, to help celebrate the official opening. Sovereign is a major sponsor of the annual street festival, as well as a Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Champion.

"It's a new location for us, but the same great people who have served the community over the decades," said Senior Vice President Robert Vivo, who emceed a brief speaking program. The modern new office replaces the bank's former Court St. location in a 1923 building on the opposite corner of the same busy intersection.
 
OBT Launches New Web site Designed to Market Job Seekers
On Nov. 15, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT), a Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Member and one of New York City’s leading employment and training organizations, launched its new interactive Web site with a networking event at Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The new site sets the bar for job training organizations by using “virtual interviews” to market disconnected young adults who have recently completed OBT’s rigorous job training program to employers.

Among the many guests that attended were OBT alumni, supporters, employers, community leaders and elected officials. The site itself was designed by Chamber Members Lost in Brooklyn Studio. To view OBT’s new Web site visit http://www.obtjobs.org/.

Imagelink Productions Announces Opening of Virtual World Office
Accompanying their real-world office in Park Slope, Imagelink Productions, a Chamber Member and online promotion and Web design company, now has an office in the virtual world of Second Life (SURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Architecture/58/140/25).

Second Life is an online virtual world, where real people can interact with each other in real time, via avatars.
Imagelink’s Donald Schwartz penned a piece about Second Life’s business opportunities were featured in the July/August 2007 edition of Brooklyn’s Progress.

Imagelink will offer, at no charge, their futuristic office facility for all Brooklyn Chamber Members to meet and talk with prospective clients from around the block or around the world. There is no cost to become a Second Life resident.

Park Avenue Bank Opens Third Brooklyn Branch in Midwood
Chamber Members Park Avenue Bank opened their new branch in Midwood, Brooklyn recently. Located at 1201 Avenue J, it is the third Brooklyn branch and fourth total branch in The Park Avenue Bank family. The state-of-the-art facility will feature noise-reduction equipment and high-cubicle walls, providing the utmost privacy for customers.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Oct. 11, and included Park Avenue Bank President and CEO Charlie Antonucci, and some help from State Senator Martin Golden.

“The success of our first two branches in Brooklyn has demonstrated the borough’s desire for first-class community banking that puts customer service first,” said Mr. Antonucci. “Our Avenue J branch will continue our commitment to providing a full range of quality banking services, as well as financial lending to assist local businesses and support neighborhood development.”