Allison Eden Studios
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ADVOCACY May 2017 Evergreen spends quite a lot of time and energy advocating on behalf of local firms. Much of the work we do benefits the industrial business community as a whole, such as our participation in public planning on The board and staff here at Evergreen work hard to serve the businesses of industrial North Brooklyn every transportation issues like truck routes and bike lanes. 2016’s biggest industrial community issues include advocacy on the proposed enhanced business area near the waterfront, advising the Department of City year, and 2016 was no exception. In 2016, Evergreen staff served more than 210 individual businesses. We Planning’s North Brooklyn Study, participating in the Bushwick Community Planning process, and serving obtained $610,000.00 in financing for 3 local firms. We managed 22,450 square feet of affordable industrial on a variety of community committees such as the Newtown Creek Community Advisory Group and the L real estate to retain more manufacturing jobs in our community. And staff helped 31 businesses navigate Train Coalition. government agencies resulting in 25 successful outcomes! More than 90 firms sent over 250 attendees to our social mixers, 129 firms attended informational workshops and 64 firms received one-on-one assistance Evergreen also advocates on behalf of individual businesses to help navigate government agencies on a from Evergreen staff. variety of issues such as permits, tickets, graffiti removal, illegal dumping, utilities and signage. Overall, we helped 31 businesses navigate government agencies resulting in 25 successful outcomes! Activities included installation of loading zone signage, street resurfacing, abandoned vehicles, equipment permits, 2016 was a year of continued change in our industrial community and in our own organization. We spent legal assistance, and various government agency violations and laws for a variety of businesses. much time developing new programming for small design/fabrication firms, and look forward to launching services in 2017. We also engaged with numerous community issues on behalf of the industrial community, such as the proposed L train shut down. Evergreen staff was an active participant in Bushwick’s community BROOKLYN GREENWAY WONTON FOODS planning process and spent a great deal of time advocating for sound industrial land use policies with In February of 2016, NYC Department of Department of City Planning’s North Brooklyn Industry and Innovation study. Finally, Evergreen worked Transportation/NYC Department of Design and with local officials and private developers to develop a compromise to allow additional commercial Construction came before Community Board 1 and proposed to extend the current Brooklyn Greenway development in exchange for retaining light industrial space in certain industrial districts. (a dedicated two - way bike lane) down Commercial and Ash Street in the North Brooklyn IBZ. We had a wonderful year fundraising! Evergreen’s new tiered membership program continues to grow and enroll some very small (and very large) businesses. Our 2016 Annual Celebration had a blockbuster year— Evergreen reached out to the businesses along we raised a record amount of money this year! Membership and Annual Celebration funds, largely from Commercial and Ash Streets to collect feedback on the Wonton Foods, one of the largest manufacturers our constituent businesses, support the important advocacy work that we do to represent local firms and proposal. The businesses were not against bike lanes, of fortune cookies, contacted Evergreen regarding their blue collar jobs. but were opposed to the plan since it would impact issues receiving their truck deliveries due to vehicles their loading bays, change the direction of Ash and parking across the street from their distribution In closing, I am pleased to present Evergreen’s Annual Report for 2016. The accomplishments we have Box streets, and create a safety concern by putting warehouse. Additionally, when vehicles were parked achieved on behalf of our local community are a testament to the dedication of our Board, staff, funders and trucks in direct conflict with cyclists. Evergreen on the corner, trucks could not make the turn which member businesses. We thank each of you for your continued support. And as you read our annual report advocated along with the businesses to request that caused back-ups and delays. This was creating a and absorb the stories about the many business owners that came to us for assistance, imagine how we the CB#1 Transportation Committee and full Board hardship for the business and created an unsafe might help you in the coming year! not approve the proposal, and request DOT look for an environment for all. On behalf of Wonton, Evergreen alternative plan. The Transportation Committee & full staff contacted the Department of Transportation to board voted against the extension of the Greenway meet with Wonton’s plant manager to come up with Sincerely, due to the conflict with the businesses, but did solutions to alleviate the problem. As a result of the request that they look for alternatives. NYC DOT and meeting with DOT officials, it was recommended to DDC came back to the board with a compromise and install no standing signage across the street from agreed the extension would only include Commercial their facility so that trucks can safely back in their Street but not Ash Street. loading dock. They also suggested to daylight the corner (which is removing parking from the corner) to Leah Archibald help trucks navigate the turn and not back up traffic. Executive Director, “Evergreen worked with us every step of the way. They responded quickly Evergreen: Your North Brooklyn Business Exchange and prevented not only a huge headache, but a large safety issue.” —Alice Mok, AVP Marketing & Public Affairs, Wonton Foods 01 02 ARGOSY DESIGNS FINANCING Founded in 2004 by Erik Johnson and Jen Johnson- Evergreen answered 15 requests for financing assistance in 2016. In total, Evergreen helped 3 North Brooklyn Kuhn, Argosy Designs specializes in the design and businesses qualify for 4 loans for a total of $610,000.00 in financing for working capital, to purchase new fabrication of custom residential and commercial architectural metalwork, as well as hardware, lighting equipment or to invest in the renovation of their facility. Since 2007, our staff has helped local businesses and furniture. At Argosy’s Greenpoint facility, a select obtain $48,549,302 million in financing. staff executes product design and development, 3D drafting and modeling, extensive welding, fabrication, BUSINESS SERVICES machining and specialty finishes. From project In 2016 Evergreen staff served more than 200 individual businesses. Business clients looked to Evergreen conception to completion, Argosy Designs delivers for a wide variety of services; the most frequently requested services were assistance accessing incentives, engaged personal service, strict attention to detail and help navigating government and financing. 90 firms sent over 250 attendees to our social mixers, 129 firms unparalleled craftsmanship. Notable clients include offer Argosy a SmartLoan through its Excelsior Bergdorf Goodman, Roman and Williams Buildings Growth Fund which enabled Argosy to access capital attended informational workshops and 64 firms received one-on-one assistance from Evergreen staff. and Interiors and Morgans Hotel Group. quickly to accommodate their moving schedule. This financing funded new production floor equipment, REAL ESTATE Argosy joined as a member of Evergreen in 2013. back office needs, and moving related costs. In 2016 Evergreen helped 12 north Brooklyn businesses with real estate inquiries. Two made a match. In 2015, they contacted Evergreen staff with the exciting news of their expansion plans. As Once Argosy was settled in in their new location, expanding their business and moving into a new Evergreen was able to work with Jen and Erik on INCENTIVES space can be daunting, Erik and Jen remembered their staffing needs. Having discussed Argosy’s Evergreen was able to help 23 local firms apply for 54 different incentives. 15 incentives were successfully obtained Evergreen could help assist with possible incentives goals and the increasing difficulty of finding by local companies and others are still pending. These incentives include tax benefits and energy discounts. that would support their business. Evergreen employees with the appropriate combination of hard helped Erik and Jen apply for the NYC Economic and soft skills for their production floor, Evergreen WORKSHOPS Development Corporation’s Accelerated Sales Tax was able to present Argosy with resources to help In 2016 Evergreen hosted 19 workshops for local businesses. More than 129 companies sent individuals to learn Exemption Program (A-Step) and the Commercial fill this gap. Evergreen connected Argosy with NYC about subjects such as Human Resource Management, Inventory Management, Accessing Crowdsourced Expansion rent abatement Program (CEP). Evergreen Small Business Services’ (SBS) ‘New Skills, New Funding, and Accounting for Entrepreneurs. also requested that the property owner apply for the Jobs’ On-the-Job Training Program. Working together Energy Cost Saving Program which would trigger with our sister organization, St Nicks Alliance, a the ability of Argosy to take advantage of that local North Brooklyn community development WORKFORCE program as well. organization, we were able to place a candidate in In 2016, Evergreen staff processed