What they call their work
What they do
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Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 1 activity
- Advocates for expanded economic opportunities during major eventsAdvocated for the HOST Act and joined coalitions to expand short-term rental capacity in New York City during major events like the 2026 World Cup to address accommodation shortages and increase economic opportunities for small businesses.
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Neighborhood Civic Engagement 1 activity
- Hosts candidate forums for local political officeOrganizes candidate forums for key local elections, such as the New York State 66th Assembly District seat, to engage the business community in civic dialogue and inform voters about candidates' positions on issues affecting Lower Manhattan’s business environment.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Hosts virtual speed networking eventsOrganizes recurring online speed networking events using structured Zoom breakout sessions, enabling business professionals to connect with 8–12 peers in one hour to foster professional relationships and collaboration.
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Business Member Promotion Services 1 activity
- Produces member spotlight conversation seriesRuns an online series featuring candid conversations with local entrepreneurs and professionals, highlighting their personal stories, business journeys, and community impact to strengthen visibility within the local business community.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Provides business membership and support servicesOffers tiered membership plans for freelancers, small businesses, and established organizations, providing access to networking, advocacy, education, and promotional opportunities to support business growth and sustainability in Greenwich Village, Chelsea, SoHo, NoHo, Union Square, and Flatiron.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Recognizes law enforcement and community leadershipHosts an annual Awards Luncheon in December to honor NYPD officers with the Officer of the Year Award and a community leader with the Neighborhood Leadership Award, reinforcing partnerships between local businesses and public safety personnel.
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Community Safety Patrols & Security Support 1 activity
- Strengthens community-police collaboration through public safety programsOperates the Safe City, Safe Streets program, including Precinct Talks & Tours events that connect business leaders and community members with the NYPD to build understanding of precinct operations and improve local public safety.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advocates for small business policy reformsChampions regulatory reforms to reduce burdens on small businesses, including streamlining processes, eliminating duplicative permits, reducing unnecessary fines, and establishing a business navigator for entrepreneurs; also advocates for citywide initiatives such as reducing fines on small businesses and reforming wage and tip credit policies.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse Gericke | Executive Dir. | 40 | $69K |
- Bruce Balsam — Treasurer
- Caroline Weaverm — Director
- Haruko Haruko — Director
- Nadia Johnson — Director
- Peg Butler — Director
- Sheelah Feinberg — Director
- Tearanny Street — Secretary
- Tiffany Donaldson — Director
Who they work with
- 12 Chairs Partner — Food sponsor for the 66th Assembly District Candidate's Forum.
- Apple Bank Partner — Local sponsor of the 66th Assembly District Candidate's Forum.
- Con Edison Partner — Presenting sponsor of the 66th Assembly District Candidate's Forum.
- GVCCC Network — Member organization producing the "Under the Arch" series to highlight its members.
- Greenwich House Partner — Venue sponsor for the 66th Assembly District Candidate's Forum.
- Laura Podesta Partner — Member featured in a virtual conversation series hosted by the chamber.
- Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Partner — Collaborates through shared participation in events, including hosting joint programming and leadership engagement.
- Mayor Mamdani Administration Partner — Collaborating on the implementation of small business regulatory reforms.
- NYPD Partner — Collaborates with the NYPD through Precinct Talks & Tours and the Safe City, Safe Streets program to enhance public safety and community trust.
- NYS Comptroller Government — Cited a report from the State Comptroller regarding tariffs and their impact on tourism and exports.
- New York City Hospitality Alliance Partner — Collaborates with the New York City Hospitality Alliance on issues affecting the hospitality industry, including wage policy.
- State Grill & Bar Partner — Representative from State Grill & Bar participates in a chamber-hosted member conversation series.
- The Village Trip Partner — Co-founders of The Village Trip participate as featured members in a chamber-hosted conversation series.
- Zoom Partner — Utilizes Zoom for virtual breakout sessions during networking events.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Coalition-Based Policy Advocacy with Data-Informed Analysismethodology: coalition-based_advocacyBy forming coalitions and using data-driven financial modeling to assess policy impacts, the organization strengthens its advocacy for regulatory reform, producing more credible and influential policy recommendations because it combines collective power with empirical analysis.
- Community-Driven Advocacy and Program Designmethodology: community-driven_engagementBy building programs through direct engagement with local business owners, the organization ensures initiatives are rooted in community needs and priorities, leading to greater relevance, buy-in, and impact because solutions emerge from within the community rather than being externally imposed.
- Storytelling to Strengthen Community-Business Connectionsmethodology: storytelling-for-community-engagementBy sharing personal narratives and professional journeys of local business owners, the organization humanizes entrepreneurs and deepens community attachment, producing stronger local support and engagement because emotional resonance builds trust and loyalty beyond transactional relationships.
- Structured Virtual Networking to Expand Business Opportunitiesmethodology: structured_virtual_networkingBy facilitating fast-paced, structured virtual networking events, the organization helps freelancers and entrepreneurs build client relationships efficiently, increasing business development opportunities because time-constrained professionals can make high-value connections in low-time formats.