Through business initiative, a shot in arm for Staten Island mom-and-pop shops
silive.com - September 8, 2011STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- President Barack Obama tonight is set to unveil a new $300 billion stimulus plan aimed at jump-starting the moribund U.S. economy.
Staten Islanders have their own idea: Stimulate the borough economy from the bottom up and keep it local, local, local.
It’s also cheaper, costing a mere 50 bucks, and will save Islanders from having to pay steeply increasing Port Authority tolls in order to shop in New Jersey.
All Islanders have to do is walk into some of their mom-and-pop businesses here this month and spend a little coin.
Borough elected officials, business leaders and store owners have signed onto the national “3/50 Project,” which aims to boost locally owned and independent businesses, be they paint stores, flower shops or restaurants.
The premise is simple: Pick three of the borough businesses that you would miss the most if they shut their doors and spend a total of $50 patronizing them.
It will not only boost the stores’ bottom lines, but is also a neat way to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Staten Island this year, supporters say.
Speaking at the Shamrock Paint store in Castleton Corners, Linda Baran, head of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, said that unlike big-box retailers, the independent shops provide hands-on customer service, sponsor Little League teams and give gift certificates to local schools.
“They are the ones who are really supporting our local communities,” she said.
Ms. Baran said that $68 out of every $100 spent at a mom-and-pop goes back into the community in the form of taxes, payroll for employees or other expenditures.
“It’s very important to our economy,” said Borough President James P. Molinaro. “We’re in as bad a shape as we were during the Great Depression. They need our help. It’s a good marriage.”
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) said that supporting the 3/50 Project would dovetail well with the fact that there is currently no sales tax on clothing $55 and lower.
She also said it was one way for consumers to blunt what she called New York’s standing as the “most hostile business environment” in the country.
City Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) said that the effort not only would help the economy rebound but would support what she called “the lifeblood of our community,” small business.
“We are keeping our neighbors in work,” she said. “We are making sure the businesses stay solvent.”
Shamrock owner Pete Monzi applauded the 3/50 initiative, saying he hoped that it would draw customers who’d never been to his store before.
He said that the only way local firms can compete with bigger national retailers is by providing quality products and service.
“We do work very hard to bring customers in and keep them,” Monzi said.
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Categories: Chamber in the News
