ExploreChinatown Newsletter
Veterans Day ceremony by American Legion, Lt. B. R. Kimlau
Chinese Memorial Post 1291 at Kimlau Square (Nov 7, 2021)
CHINATOWN PARTNERSHIP/BID AWARDED GRANT TO BOOST NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION PROJECTS
11/10/21 - The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris announced a one year grant to the Chinatown Partnership / Business Improvement District (BID) to boost neighborhood development through commercial revitalization projects. The award, funded by the Avenue NYC program, will be used to strengthen community-based development organizations’ (CBDOs) capacity to understand local neighborhood needs, support small business recovery, and deliver impactful community development projects.

“The Avenue NYC survey has given the Chinatown Partnership/BID a chance to convene downtown professionals and small business owners alike and elevate their priorities in the midst of Chinatown's recovery," said Executive Director Wellington Chen. "Working with Small Business Services on assisting our merchants is our current practice; the Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA) is a chance to address the core of our neighborhood's needs, inviting the public to see well beyond the storefront facade."

“COVID-19 has had devastating effects on our Black, Asian, and Latinx communities and it is important we deliver the resources they need to recover,” said Jonnel Doris Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, “These initiatives will help revitalize our commercial corridors and bring them back stronger than ever.”
 
About Avenue NYC
SBS’ Avenue NYC program is a competitive grant program that funds and builds the capacity of CBDOs including business improvement districts (BIDs), local development corporations, merchants associations and others operating in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods to execute commercial revitalization projects. Avenue NYC grant awards allow these organizations to hire a full-time program manager, and enable them to conduct an in-depth district needs assessment and execute commercial revitalization programming and services in their neighborhoods. Avenue NYC is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. More information on Avenue NYC can be found at nyc.gov/avenuenyc.
Governor Hochul Announces Chinatown as $20 Million New York City Region Winner of Fifth-Round Downtown Revitalization Initiative

11/10/21 - Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Chinatown will receive $20 million in funding as the New York City Region winner of the fifth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). As part of DRI Round 5, each of the state's 10 regional economic development regions are being awarded $20 million, to make for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their post COVID-19 economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods.

Chinatown will use the $20 million DRI award to build on its history as a cultural destination in order to preserve and return the neighborhood to a vibrant downtown area. Chinatown already launched several ongoing and planned projects that have created excitement and momentum for further revitalization, including restoration of the Kimlau Memorial Monument, multiple affordable and senior housing projects, and multiple resiliency projects at NYCHA properties. Chinatown's DRI will build on this progress by creating new arts and cultural space, improving connectivity, increasing housing, and expanding green space to achieve its goals of building an arts and culture economic engine, attracting tourists and regional visitors, solidifying the neighborhood as a cultural home for the 1.2 million Asian American Pacific Islanders living in the NY metro area, and improving the quality of life in the neighborhood.
E-Waste Recycling Event (11/20/21)
Restrictions on the Distribution of Plastic Straws, Splash Sticks, and Stirrers
自2021 年 11 月 1 日起，紐約市食品服務機構可能不再提供一次性塑料飲料吸管，除非有要求。此外，食品服務機構可能不再提供一次性飲料潑濺棒或塑料製成的攪拌器。

As of November 1, 2021, New York City food service establishments may no longer provide single-use plastic beverage straws, except upon request. Additionally, food service establishments may no longer provide single-use beverage splash sticks or stirrers made of plastic.

Establishments May Provide:

  • Beverage straws that are compostable and not made of plastic (Ex. compostable paper)
  • Beverage splash sticks and stirrers that are compostable and not made of plastic (Ex. wood)

Upon Request Only:

  • All food service establishments must maintain a sufficient supply of single-use plastic beverage straws that are not compostable and provide these, free of charge, to any person who requests one.
  • Food service establishments with self-serve stations must display a sign at each station that states: “Plastic straws available upon request.” These signs must be unobstructed in their entirety, be at least two inches by seven inches, and no less than 20-point font. Sample signs may be downloaded here.
  • Establishments that are covered by the Commercial Organics Rules may provide straws made of compostable plastics upon request only if such straws are used on premises and they are source separated from garbage and other recyclables to be collected by a Business Integrity Commission (BIC) licensed organics carter.
Enter 1010 WINS Small Business 10K Challenge
(Deadline 11/14/21)
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Health Programs
Lung Cancer Screening Program

  • MSKCC is looking for Chinese men who are current/former smokers and between 50-80. The program will help connect participants to lung cancer screening and smoking cessation programs.
  • Participants will be paid $100 for their time.

Restaurant Worker Program

  • MSKCC is interviewing "back-of-the-house" restaurant workers (i.e., chefs, cooks, bakers, kitchen prep, dishwashers, etc.) in NYC to understand their health and social needs. This one-time survey will be completed over the phone and takes around 1 hour to complete. 
  • Participants will be paid $50 for their time.

Please contact Chloe Chan at (917-692-9569) for more info.
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