The DOWNTOWN FAR ROCKAWAY BUSINESS NEWSSeptember27,2017

DOWNTOWN FAR ROCKAWAY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN UPDATE On September 7th, the City Council unanimously approved the Downtown Far Rockaway Redevelopment Plan. At a press conference held by Councilman Donovan Richards and Deputy Mayor Alicia Glenn on the steps of City Hall, it was announced that the Plan had increased from the original $91 million announced in the Fall of 2015 to now over $280 million in public and private sector commitments. Joining Councilman Richards and Deputy Mayor Glenn at the press conference were representatives from the NYC Economic Development Corporation; NYC Housing, Preservation and Development; NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Sanitation; NYC Department of Parks and Recreation; Hon. Stacey Pheffer-Amato, Queens Community Board #14 District Manager Jonathan Gaska; Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation; St. John's Episcopal Hospital; Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center; Jewish Coordinating Council of the Rockaway Peninsula; Deerfield Civic Association; Rock Safe Streets; and Rockaway East Merchants Association.

Highlights of the Downtown Far Rockaway Redevelopment Plan:• Creation of a special Downtown Far Rockaway development district to address outdated zoning that

have restricted past revitalization efforts;• New permanent, affordable housing on City-owned properties located in Downtown Far Rockaway;• New infrastructure (water, sewage and utilities);• New Far Rockaway Branch Library;• New roadways, expanded sidewalks and streetscapes (trees, plants, sidewalk furniture, wayfinding

signage and electronic bus arrival displays);• Improved access to the Far Rockaway LIRR located on Redfern Avenue;• Extending the Ferry Service into downtown Far Rockaway via shuttle bus;• New pedestrian plazas and upgrades to existing school playgrounds, libraries, auditoriums

and science labs;

• Increased access to small business services by local merchants - legal, planning, access-to-capital;• Increased funding for arts and cultural organizations located or providing services in the downtown Far

Rockaway and surrounding the areas.

RDRC SYEP BY THE NUMBERS FOR 2017:

ü No. of temporary SYEP jobs created: 1303

ü No. of worksites developed: 372

ü No. of 14-15 year olds that participated in Community Service Learning Workshops: 250

ü No. of temporary RDRC SYEP jobs created: 7

ü No. of SYEP youth permanently hired by SYEP worksites: 31

Funded by the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is by far both RDRC's largest and most impactful human services program for youth between the ages of 14 and 24 years. Thank you to all of our worksite sponsors and to Beth-El Temple and Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School for providing additional space to recruit, register and provide workshops to over 1,300 Rockaway youth.

RDRC Board of Directors

Linda Plummer Chair

Cesar Aviles 1stVice Chair

Brian Pinnola2nd Vice Chair

Domenic Abbatiello Treasurer

Betty Leon, Esq. Secretary

Frank Davis, Esq. Member

Connie DeLaigle Member

LaVida Jervis Member

David Millner Member

Keith Nelson Member

Dominick Trovato Member

Steve Wolf Member

DOWNTOWN FAR ROCKAWAY RESILIENCY PROJECT UPDATERDRC Host "DiscoTech" Party @ Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School

The Downtown Far Rockaway Resiliency Project funded by the NYC Economic Development Corporation is committed to developing a communications network that allows residents, business owners, workers and commuters to communicate using wireless network technology that is not solely dependent on cell towers. In order to prepare and inform our community about the network, RDRC and New America held a "DiscoTech" Night at Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School. The term "DiscoTech" (Discovering Technology) is a term coined by the Detroit Digital Justice Coalition is a proven model for organizations such as RDRC to introduce mobile technologies in a fun and informative way.

The RDRC Digital Stewards organized and hosted the "DiscoTech" in order to demonstrate their newly acquired skills to attendees and learn how the community utilizes technology (for instance leaning how attendees use their smartphones - calls, messaging, Internet, download apps, social media, etc.) Interacting with the community also enabled RDRC to learn what role(s) our wireless network system can play in building a sustainable, resilient neighborhood, especially during a disaster. Over the next several months our Digital Stewards will be receiving additional training to install and maintain the wireless network, in anticipation of the installation of the network in early 2018.

RDRC SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (SYEP)

Rockaway East Merchants Association Annual Merchant's Fair & Fashion Show

RDRC'S SUMMERTIME @ THE PLAZA CONCERT & EVENT SERIES HIGHLIGHTS Now in its second year, Summertime @ The Plaza Concert & Event Series continues to grow. This season, RDRC added two community outreach events and kicked-off the 1st Annual Rockaway Caribbean Carnival hosted by NYS Senator James Sanders, Jr. Collectively, our Beach 20th Street Plaza events attracted and entertained approximately 3,000 persons thanks to our event partners and supporters.

Ricardo "Panman" & Friends Steel Drum Band Live Concert

Queens Library - Far Rockaway Health Fair & Community Outreach Day

Thank you to following merchants and local service providers who participated in Summertime @ The Plaza 2017 events:

Alize Unisex Barbershop Alpha Care of New YorkCapital One Bank Cocoon Home Care ServicesDAC Unisex Beauty Salon Castillo Multi-Service Travel Agency D'Jeanette Fashion BoutiqueHazel RossH & R BlockHudson Gilbert Tax and Real EstateHumana Health CareThe Insurance Marketplace INCARE Health Care Joseph Addabbo Family Health Center Jontue Discount Boutique Legal Shield Mama's Cooking Restaurant MJM Tattoos & Piercing Mott Avenue Check Cashing New Empire Car Wash New York Career Training School NYS Senator James Sanders, Jr. Purrfect Pets Queens Public Library @ Far Rockaway Branch Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) Rockaway East Merchants Association (REMA)Rockaway Furniture StoreSt. John's Episcopal HospitalThe Jamilah Ali Community Affairs Show Tino's Unisex HairstylingTri-Med Home Care Services Warrior Scholar Martial Arts

THANK YOU TO OUR SUMMERTIME @ THE PLAZA 2017 SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS!

Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation, Inc.

1920 Mott Avenue

Far Rockaway, NY 11691

718.327.5300

www.rdrc.org

Twitter: @the_rdrc

FirstAnnualRockaway CaribbeanCarnivalKick-offEventandParade

The DOWNTOWN FAR ROCKAWAY BUSINESS NEWS Papo Vasquez Pirates Troubadours Band Live Concert

RDRC StaffKevin Alexander, PresidentValerie West, Vice PresidentAlan Chan, CPALaVerne Jeffrey, Office Manager

Education, Employment & Career Development Services Renee McWilliams, DirectorLeonor Reina, Associate DirectorNick Master, Program CoordinatorKaren Abrams, Senior Program Associate Kimberly Isaac, Program AssociateVictoria Stukes, Program AssociateJazmine Occeus, Program AssociateDouglas Wilcox, Program Associate

EECDS/Summer Youth Employment Program Stacey Grenan, Program AssociateMatthew Askaran, Program Associate Delicia Hall, Program AssociateAdara Yahsharala-Israel, Program Associate Ahkeal Hill, Program Associate

Business & Professional Services Malcolm Harewood, DirectorWill Smith, Program Manager Lynette Spencer, Intake Specialist

Information & Technology Training Services Junor Barnett, Associate Director