Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce - Flushing Launches District Marketing Campaign

Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) and the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) announced the launch of Flushing’s new district marketing campaign to support small businesses. The campaign aims to showcase Flushing’s diverse community, special landmarks, and cultural amenities to attract visitors from New York and beyond. The campaign stems from the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Neighborhood 360° grant investment of $1.55 million to support commerce in Downtown Flushing through partnerships with local businesses and city agencies.

“As Flushing grows, it’s important to sustain the small businesses that started the neighborhood’s job-creating economic engine,” said Christopher Kui, Executive Director of Asian Americans for Equality. “This new marketing campaign will boost their bottom lines by helping the Flushing first-time and veteran shopper alike find something in the neighborhood they’re sure to love and keep them coming back for more.”

The launch event at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel kicked off with welcome remarks fromCouncilman Peter Koo and M. Blaise Backer, Deputy Commissioner for Neighborhood Development at SBS, Shurn Anderson representing Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Peter Tu, Executive Director at the Flushing Chinese Business Association, and Dian Yu, Executive Director at the Flushing BID.

“Our campaign seeks to sustain Flushing’s viability as a beacon for economic opportunity, mutual respect, and solidarity for those who live and work here,” stated Taehoon Kim, president of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. “By empowering entrepreneurs and using the latest techniques to increase market share, we hope to support our beleaguered business community, which is suffering from escalating rents, targeted enforcement, inadequate infrastructure, and competition from national chain stores.”

After a presentation by John Choe, Executive Director of the Chamber, Isabelle Leighton, Director of Equality Fund at AAFE, moderated a panel discussion with Rob MacKay, Director at Queens Tourism Council; Brendan Crain, Program Director at Open House New York; and, Joe DiStefano, Queens Food Critic and Culinary Guide at Chopsticks and Marrow.

“Strong neighborhoods are the backbone of our city, and the $1.55 million in investments to Flushing is going a long way towards revitalizing key commercial corridors,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “By working with Asian Americans for Equality and the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, we are responding to local needs to support small business growth and build more vibrant neighborhoods for all New Yorkers.”

The multi-year campaign will profile Flushing’s attractions and offer plentiful opportunities for local businesses to participate and grow. As part of this campaign, an online neighborhood portal will provide visitor information, itineraries for exploration as well as recommendations for places to visit, eat, and stay in Flushing. Partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and community-based organizations throughout the three-year marketing initiative will help boost Flushing’s profile within New York City through cross-promotion, ad placements, and other ideas solicited from the community.

“Flushing has a number of untapped resources that stand to greatly benefit from a coordinated marketing campaign,” said NYC Councilmember Peter Koo. “I’d like to thank AAFE, the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce and all the participating groups for coming together to highlight our points of interest and troubleshoot our common problems.”

The campaign will also be accompanied by marketing resources including free business workshops, a style guide, and online promotional opportunities for local small businesses to help them take full advantage of the opportunities generated by the campaign.

For more information, contact the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce at www.flushingchamber.nyc. The Chamber is a multicultural membership association of entrepreneurs, business owners, and civic leaders who foster the economic growth, inclusive diversity, and shared prosperity of our community through advocacy, networking, and education.

Follow our campaign on Facebook.com/FlushingFantastic with hashtag #MyFlushing.

Photos from today’s district marketing campaign launch are available here.

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