Brooklyn's Progress
August/September 2005

Brooklyn Chamber Releases Brooklyn Labor Market Review for 2005
The Brooklyn  Chamber of Commerce recently released its Spring 2005 update of the Brooklyn Labor Market Review, highlighting important information about the borough's industries and the jobs they create.  The Brooklyn Labor Market Review covers nine measurements of employment, economic and demographic conditions in the borough.  The report was researched and written by Rebecca Busansky in the Brooklyn Chamber's Economic Development department, under the direction of Randy Peers, Vice President.  Additional support was provided by Yuk Lo, Administrative Assistant.  The Brooklyn Labor Market Review is made possible by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Center for Workforce Preparation with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor.  Click here to read The Brooklyn Labor Market Review.  For questions or comments, or to receive a copy of the report, contact Randy Peers, Brooklyn Chamber Vice President for Economic Development at 718 875-1000 ext. 122, or email him at rpeers@brooklynchamber.com.

Ridgewood Savings Bank Opens New Branch in Dyker Heights
Ridgewood Savings Bank has opened a new full-service branch in Dyker Heights at 7020 13th Ave. A full-service array of banking services will be offered including checking, savings and certificate of deposit accounts, diverse mortgage and consumer loan options, retirement plans, and 24-hour ATM.  The branch will also offer a selection of financial products and services, including life insurance, annuities, stocks and bonds, through a Metropolitan Life Insurance representative covering the branch.  Ridgewood Savings Bank alsohas branches in Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, and Cobble Hill.

In other Ridgewood Saving Bank news, recently, the company launched a Mobile Banking Center.  This is the only program of its kind in New York State, according to bank officials and the New York State Banking Department.  The unique “branch-on-wheels” is a specially designed vehicle equipped with interior and exterior teller windows, exterior ATM, private office, customer service desk, and wheelchair access.  Fully staffed by bank personnel, the branch is 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 12 feet high.  According to bank officials, Ridgewood already has received approval from the New York State Banking Department and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for three initial locations on Long Island for the mobile branch.  Additional destinations in Brooklyn and Queens as well as on Long Island also are currently being targeted.  To learn more about Ridgewood Savings Bank visit http://www.ridgewoodbank.com/.

Astoria Federal Night at the Brooklyn Cyclones
During Astoria Federal night at KeySpan Park on July 6, the bank promoted its 7th Annual “Kids Tools for School” new school supply collection program.  During August, Astoria Federal Savings will collect school supplies and cash donations to help Brooklyn’s underprivileged children start the school year in the fall.  Astoria Federal distributed rally towels (held by Ms. Rapisarda and Mr. Lee) to the first 5,000 ticketholders at the game.

Brooklyn Public Library Announces Winners of PowerUP! Business Plan Competition
The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) announced the winners of its 2nd Annual PowerUP! Business Plan Competition during the Library’s June 11 Entrepreneur EXPO.  More than 280 individuals participated in the 2004-2005 PowerUP! Business Plan Competition. To help participants refine their ideas and write their business plans, the Business Library offered them free classes on creating business plans, marketing, budgetary principles, and using resources available at the Business Library and on its Web site. Of the pool of applicants, 67 submitted business plans that were reviewed by a panel of judges.

Winners of the 2002-2003 PowerUP! Business Plan Competition, Brooklyn Chamber Members Farid Ali and George Constantinou, who leveraged their prize money and opened Brooklyn's Bogota Café Bistro on 5th Ave. in Park Slope, gave words of encouragement to the entrepreneurs attending the event, advised them not to be afraid to ask for help, and suggested that they visit the Business Library, either on-site or online.  Citigroup, sponsor of the competition, provided the prize money for the competition.  Kathleen Parisi, National Business Development Officer for Citibank, conceived of the business plan competition after September 11 when many New Yorkers were losing their jobs, and she nurtured the Business Library’s last two business plan competitions.  For more information about the Brooklyn Public Library and a list of the PowerUP! Business Plan Competition winners, visit http://www.biz.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/.

Cablevision Launches News 12 Brooklyn, Offering 24-hour Borough-wide News Coverage
Cablevision Systems Corporation has launched the first 24-hour local cable news channel completely dedicated to the borough of Brooklyn.  Debuting on June 14, News 12 Brooklyn is available exclusively to Cablevision customers in Brooklyn.  News 12 Brooklyn offers unparalleled coverage of news, events and issues affecting the borough and its diverse communities.

Potholes, Noise and Litter are Top Concerns in NYC Neighborhoods
New Yorkers think life in the big city is getting better, at least according to 600 neighborhood and community leaders.  Citizens for NYC and Baruch College’s eTownPanel, recently released the results of its third citywide survey of neighborhood leaders on quality-of-life problems during a news conference on the steps of City Hall.

The survey, conducted over 18 months,  breaks down results by borough showing that noise, litter, air pollution and traffic congestion are top concerns, but the severity of those problems has decreased.  Respondents said that potholes are worse.  In Brooklyn and Manhattan residents put street litter and garbage along with drugs in the top five.  For more information about Citizens for NYC, visit http://www.citizensnyc.org/.

Signature Bank Appoints Alfonse M. D'Amato to its Board of Directors
Signature Bank recently announced the election of former U.S. Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato to its board of directors. Senator D'Amato is the Managing Director of Park Strategies LLC, the Manhattan and Washington, D.C.-based business consulting firm he started in 1999. Senator D'Amato served as a U.S. Senator for New York for 18 years, from 1981 to 1999. For more information about Signature Bank, please visit http://www.signatureny.com/.