About Us

Queens Chamber of Commerce offers a number of services to the borough's business community. Each of these activities helps business people by offering information and advice helpful to their business, as well as opportunities for meeting and working with other businesses and groups in Queens.

Luncheons
The Chamber sponsors frequent luncheons with speakers of interest to the Queens business community; past speakers have included New York City Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudolph Giuliani, New York State Governor George Pataki and US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. In addition to allowing business people to hear about current issues affecting business in the borough, the luncheons also offer the opportunity for businesses to network in a relaxed setting.

Expositions and Trade Shows
Each year, the Chamber offers businesses the opportunity to display their products and services. The Chamber's annual Business Expo and Trade Show attracts over 100 exhibitors each year, and is visited by both Chamber members and the general public.

Business Card Exchanges
The Chamber also holds frequent business card exchanges, hosted by member businesses. The host company gets to show its products and services to the Queens business community, while those attending the event have an informal atmosphere to meet and exchange information about their businesses. These events are rountinely attended by 80 to 125 businesspeople.

Health Insurance
The Queens Chamber of Commerce offers a Group Health Insurance Plan to provide Queens businesses with high quality, flexible, and cost-effective group health insurance. The program offers Chamber members a wide range of "dual option," "gatekeeper-less" PPO/indemnity model programs underwritten by Group Health Inc. (GHI). It is available to businesses as small as one employee (i.e. sole practitioners, sole proprietors, etc.). For detailed information about this program, please call the Chamber at (718) 898-8500.

Queensborough Magazine
The Chamber's monthly magazine, Queensborough, reports on Chamber events as well as other developments of interest to the Queens business community and is available to Chamber members and other subscribers. The magazine also offers a unique forum for members to advertise their businesses to the 3,100 businesses that receive the magazine.

Membership Directory
Each year, one issue of Queensborough magazine contains a directory of member businesses, sorted not only by company name, but also by type of business and by contact person. This invaluable resource of business contacts is available only to Chamber members, as are updated membership lists throughout the year.

Seminars
Throughout the year, the Chamber presents a number of seminars on specific topics of interest to the Queens business community. Employment law topics, Workers' compensation and doing business on the Internet are just some of the topics that recent seminars have addressed.

Chamber Committees
The Chamber maintains a number of committees, each devoted to a particular interest of the business community. For example, the Governmental Relations Committee formulates the platform of positions on issues for which the Chamber advocates during the year. The Legislative Advocacy committee keeps track of legislative and regulatory developments and communicates the Chamber's positons on issues. The Education & Workforce Development committee addresses employment issues and the Public Health and Safety committee focuses on health care and related issues. Click here for more information on specific Chamber Committees.

Government Relations
Through the Governmental Relations, Legislative Advocacy, City Services committees, the Chamber maintains close relationships with federal, state and city officials and agencies.

The Chamber's Legislative breakfasts attract legislators from all levels of government and feature the unveiling of the Chamber's annual legislative agenda. The Chamber also maintains contact with Queens legislators throughout the year through smaller meetings with legislators and an annual trip to Albany.

The Chamber also maintains relationships with a variety of federal, state and city agencies, including the police and fire departments, transportation agencies, and the Social Security Administration. In addition to providing forums at which these departments can better coordinate their activities, the Chamber also assists members who encounter problems with these agencies.
Annual Building Awards
Starting in 1926, the Chamber has recognized outstanding construction in Queens through our Annual Building Awards. The winners, which are announced at the Chamber's annual dinner in December, each receive a large, bronze plaque for display in or on the honored structure. Awards are given in a variety of categories for both new construction and for exterior rehabilitations, alterations or additions.

Annual "Business Person of the Year & Hall of Fame" Awards
Since 1994, the Chamber has recognized outstanding Queens business leaders and entrepreneurs through its Annual "Business Person of the Year" Awards. The winners of these awards are announced and recognized at a special Chamber luncheon. Since 2002 the Chamber has also inducted individuals, companies and organizations into the Hall of Fame. The recipients are chosen for outstanding contributions to the community over a long period of time.

Sports Activities
Besides the formal events for Chamber members, the Chamber also sponsors annual sports events, including annual golf days and outings to Belmont Park. These events allow members to network in an informal setting.

Information Resource
The Chamber also offers information and resources to new and existing businesses in the borough, including information on exporting, business assistance programs (including federal, state and city incentive programs), and demographic and economic information about the borough of Queens and its many neighborhoods.

Promoting Queens
In addition to our services to members, the Chamber also promotes itself and its members at regional, national and international business groups and events. We also serve as a resource for information both to members and to others about the borough of Queens. Every day, the Chamber fields calls from around the country and the world looking for information about Queens and local businesses. When appropriate, callers are referred to Chamber members.