This past Friday at 12pm, New York City Commissioner for Small Business Services Gregg Bishop was taken on a tour of Rockaway Beach by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato. They discussed deliberate strategies for growth, the challenges of doing business in a time of recovery, and the ways SBS can help businesses thrive in a unique, seasonal economy. Pheffer Amato and Bishop were joined by Ladies of Business Rockaway Beach, an organization created in 2016 to bring local women business owners together to share resources, support and strategies for regional business promotion. The members of LBRB own businesses across a broad range of industries, many of which are experiencing a renaissance thanks to an influx of tourism and relocation to the Rockaway Peninsula since 2014.

“I felt it was incredibly important to have the Commissioner out at this time of challenge and opportunity, when small businesses are driving an incredible revitalization of our area after Superstorm Sandy. We’re grateful for everything he’s been doing, especially out in our communities,” said Pheffer Amato. “We had a much-needed exchange of ideas to plan what our renaissance should look like longer-term, driven by small businesses.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of neighborhoods across our city, and I was pleased to tour Rockaway Beach Boulevard to listen to business owners and share information about our services,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “I would like to thank Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato for inviting me to tour the area and for being a partner in building stronger neighborhoods in the Rockaways.”

"We were so happy to meet with the Commissioner and join Stacey on a tour of Rockaway Beach Boulevard," said Jaime Schultz, co-founder of Ladies of Business Rockaway Beach, owner of Rockaway Retreat House and commercial real estate broker active on the peninsula. "A lot has changed since the storm. New businesses are springing up. But they face challenges operating in this highly seasonal, urban beach town. We appreciated the opportunity to talk about those challenges with Commissioner Bishop. We look forward to working with him and with Stacey to support the economic stability and vitality of this neighborhood."

"We're pleased to see the city so eager to help Rockaway's women business owners take advantage of government programs and services that are available to help them succeed," said Riva Richmond, a LBRB board member and the coordinator of its speaker program and map of local women-owned businesses. "As community small business advocates, we stand ready to be a liaison between the Commissioner and Rockaway's vibrant local business community."