Shop for Community Success - Presenting The Southeast Queens Business Expo

Showcase Your Business at the Expo

After attending the Jamaica is... Evolving, event on 5-8-2017, my question is how is it evolving and to whom's benefit. It was also apparent to me many Greater Jamaica, or Southeast Queens residents are worried about the number of residents being employed and given business contracts with all the development going on in Jamaica Center.  A number of residents attending the meeting expressing concerns about being pushed out of the community.

Another concern was that economic opportunities were not being given to people in residential areas around Jamaica Avenue like St. Albans, Hollis, South Jamaica, etc.  One speaker quoted that 150 million dollars has been invested so far into revitalizing Jamaica Center.  But how much of this investment has been invested with neighborhood residents?

In my honest opinion I think we have some very nice committed people working to create an epicenter of arts and culture around Jamaica Avenue, or as the area is being renamed "Downtown Jamaica."  That's great.  But economic revitalization is barely a sidebar issue when it comes to enhancing business Main Streets in residential areas like Farmers Blvd, Merrick Blvd, and Linden Blvd.  I don't think these places are even or the radar screen of the developers involved in Jamaica's revitalization now.

Moreover, as a business consultant and one working every day with small businesses in residential areas in Southeast Queens, I don't see the same passion and concern to help revitalize the business districts or main streets in places like South Jamaica, Cambria Heights, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans, Queens Village and other areas.

If the residential area's business strips and avenues surrounding Jamaica Center are to get any development it is obviously going to be up to us as residents to do the heavy lifting and investment.  We'll have to invest with our disposable income dollars and shop local.  No one is going to help us build a vibrant economic sector in our communities but us!  

In order to help with economic empowerment and business development in the area the Southeast Queens Scoop, is working towards promoting area entrepreneurs by spearheading a Southeast Queens Business Expo.  This year's theme is "Shop for Community Success!"  The goal is to build rapport and support between striving businesses and residents in Southeast Queens.

If you are a business owner why don't you click here for more info.

It is nice to see the business sections in the residential areas of Southeast Queens, are progressively taking the initiative to upscale and upgrade themselves.  Of course Major developers are going to revamp the major commercial hub sector of Jamaica Ave. Nevertheless, it is vital that people in our residential areas of Southeast Queens are proactively investing in their own neighborhood's community businesses for economic development.


We need to either start businesses or support them in the area -  This will build ownership of the business sectors in our community and share in the economic development in the area along with major corporations and national chains.

A vibrant business section in the residential areas of Southeast Queens will also tend to increase property values of the real estate and offer community owned services and increase wealth in the neighborhood.  It will also create local jobs for residents.

Some of our neighborhood entrepreneurs are virtual companies, home based businesses, or startups that are bootstrapping and don't have the capital yet to open shop in an expensive office or retail shop.  So the Southeast Queens Business Expo, will work to create knowledge and familiarity between local residents and business owners who live and work in the area.

For Merchant and Business Vendor info Contact Us.  For more details of the Southeast Queens Business Expo please join our mailing list for more info.

By Kamau Austin, Publisher the Southeast Queens Scoop

About the Southeast Queens Scoop - is the premier website and only publication offering daily news and updates on the events, culture, issues, and is dedicated to the business and economic development in this largely black historic community. To get our free weekly newsletter Click Here

The publication targets the over 350,000 residents in the Southeast Queen and Jamaica Queens area. It promotes to over 40,000 potential viewers in social media, mobile devices and search engines like Google and Bing!  To learn more about how to promote your business or organization on the Scoop or online Click Here

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