Partnership with Yelp, New Interactive Website and Promotional Ads Will Drive Shoppers to Local Businesses

DUMBO, Brooklyn – Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn was joined by Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert W. Walsh, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assembly Member Joan L. Millman and Council Members Stephen T. Levin, Diana Reyna, and Margaret Chin to announce and kick off “Support NYC Small Business,” a new promotional campaign to encourage shopping in New York City neighborhoods hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. The City Council, the City Department of Small Business Services, City Economic Development Corporation, NYC & Company and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment have also teamed up with Yelp, a web platform that connects consumers to small businesses, to further promote these businesses by featuring lists of reopened businesses on their site and by directing users to the interactive map. Speaker Quinn and others made the announcement at One Girl Cookies in DUMBO and were also joined by One Girl Cookies co-owner Dawn Casale, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carlo Scissura, representative from the Queens Chamber of Commerce, representative from the Brooklyn Borough President’s office, former Deputy Public Advocate Reshma Saujani, DUMBO BID Executive Director Alexandria Sica, Restore Red Hook co-founder Monica Byrne and others.

The “Support NYC Small Business” Campaign Includes:

An advertising campaign encouraging New Yorkers to support small businesses that have reopened after Hurricane Sandy in some of the hardest hit areas in New York City this holiday season and beyond. The campaign highlights some open businesses and their remarkable recovery stories to be featured on television, radio and bus shelters and in print and taxi cabs.
A “Back to Business” website with an interactive map of open businesses: Business owners around the City who have opened their doors after being impacted by Hurricane Sandy are encouraged to add their businesses to the map, and New Yorkers are encouraged to consult the map for their holiday shopping and beyond.
Go to http://supportnycsmallbusiness.com/ to access the interactive map and visit the campaign’s homepage at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/html/business/support_nyc_small_business.shtml, which will be posting video profiles of the participating businesses in the coming days.
Partnership with Yelp:

Yelp will feature links to help drive NYC users to the Support NYC Small Business interactive map and lists of businesses that have been impacted by Sandy by neighborhood. Advertising space on the site will be donated to promote the City’s campaign.
http://www.yelp.com/events/new-york-yelp-builds-back
Over 13,000 businesses were impacted by Sandy, but many have heroically picked up the pieces and have reopened. Through this new, extensive promotional campaign, New York City government and private partners are working to highlight these businesses and encourage New Yorkers and tourists alike to shop there during the holiday season and beyond. Supporting these local businesses is a vital part of the city’s post Hurricane Sandy recovery effort.

“In the height of the holiday shopping season, we need to make sure that New Yorkers, tourists and all shoppers are fully aware that many small businesses impacted by Sandy have reopened and are ready to serve customers,” said Speaker Quinn. “Through this promotional marketing campaign and new interactive map along with a Yelp partnership, we will be helping drive shoppers to neighborhoods and businesses hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy this holiday season and beyond. I want to thank SBS, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, the NYC Economic Development Corporation, and Yelp for teaming up to help our city’s small businesses and local economy get back on track.”

“So many New Yorkers are looking for ways to help those impacted most by Hurricane Sandy, and one easy way is to shop this holiday season and beyond at the small businesses in areas around the City who were hit hardest but have been able to reopen their doors,” said Rob Walsh, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “This campaign encourages New Yorkers to pick up a bottle of wine in Red Hook, or a handmade gift at Blue Bungalow in the Rockaways. Small businesses are the economic engine of our City and we are doing all that we can to encourage New Yorkers to support them during their time of need.”

“Support NYC Small Business will make it easier for New Yorkers to do what they do best in difficult times: assist their neighbors,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. “This campaign will help to attract shoppers to small retailers in neighborhoods hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy, generating business for these local companies and, in turn, helping secure the long-term recovery of these communities. I want to thank Speaker Quinn and the City Council for supporting this important effort, and to thank Yelp for its partnership in promoting New York City businesses.”

“The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has been able to profile several local businesses who were directly affected by Hurricane Sandy,” said New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Katherine Oliver. “The videos paint a vivid portrait of what small businesses throughout the City have endured, how they’re bouncing back and how New Yorkers can help.”

“From DUMBO, North Brooklyn and Gowanus, to the Lower East Side, Financial District and across our city, small businesses that are getting back on their feet need our business,” said Senator Daniel Squadron. “The Support NYC Small Business campaign is another step toward recovery — and will go a long way toward getting vital foot traffic back to recovering businesses and neighborhoods. Of course the programs we need to fully recover do not all exist today, and we must continue to target city, state, and federal resources to rebuild and recover in Sandy’s wake. Thank you to Speaker Quinn and the Council, SBS, and Yelp for your leadership. Now let’s get to work and get our small businesses up, running, and thriving.”

“As the City continues to recover from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, there is no better way to support the small business community than for everyday New Yorkers to continue to shop and patronize our local stores,” said Council Committee on Small Business Chair Diana Reyna.

“Hurricane Sandy has had devastating impact on small businesses throughout NYC leaving many of them out of business,” said Council Committee on Economic Development Chair Karen Koslowtiz. “As they start to reopen it is critical we provide the tools and opportunity necessary to ensure their stability and economic recovery. The NYC Council is proud to take part in this important initiative to help our businesses get back on track.”

“The mushrooming retail corridor that was successfully developing in Red Hook was decimated by Sandy,” said Council Member Sara M. Gonzalez. “But the resolute will of Restore Red Hook has displayed their determination to bounce back. We certainly hope that the spirit of the holidays and the great outpouring of generosity and concern we’ve experienced will combine with this new campaign to help the many businesses throughout Red Hook and throughout the City come back stronger than ever.”

“Support Small Business NYC is a great example of New Yorkers finding innovative ways to take action and get things done,” said former Deputy Public Advocate Reshma Saujani. “After launching StartUp New York last week as a leading resource for small businesses affected by Sandy, I know this initiative will come as a great relief to businesses aiming to recover revenue, restore foot traffic, and create new jobs. We must continue bringing everyone to the table and leveraging the power of technology to help our small businesses.”

“Support NYC Small Business” celebrates small businesses that have reopened their doors after Hurricane Sandy, but many small businesses are still working to get back on their feet. All businesses in need of assistance due to Hurricane Sandy can find out more information by visiting www.nyc.gov/nycbusiness, calling 311, or visiting one of the City’s Restoration Centers or NYC Business Solutions Centers in all five boroughs.