VOTING OPEN FOR QUEENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INAUGURAL QUEENS’ BEST HALAL RESTAURANT COMPETITION4/22/2024  The Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in the borough, is now accepting votes for its Queens’ Best Halal Restaurant Competition. Members of the public are encouraged to vote for their favorite eatery from among 16 nominated establishments to settle the debate over who in Queens serves up the best halal food in the borough. All restaurants, regardless of cuisine, were eligible for nomination as long as they are certified halal, and include everything from Bengali restaurants to Thai and Chinese eateries. Within the food and beverage industry, halal refers to anything permissible to consume according to Muslim tradition and rules. “Queens is one of the most diverse places on earth and the halal restaurants across our great borough showcases that diversity,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “The nominated restaurants offer everything from spicy biryanis and juicy burgers to flavorful pad thai and falafel and I look forward to visiting the winning restaurant and trying some of their delicious offerings.” The public can vote for their favorite restaurant at https://bit.ly/QueensBestHalalVote through Tuesday, April 30. The winner will be crowned with the title of Queens’ Best Halal Restaurant on Friday, May 3, and receive bragging rights, along with a complimentary membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. Nominations for the contest were collected from the public over the course of several weeks and include the following 16 establishments:
Press release available for download, below. 
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Today, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Queens’ oldest and largest business association, issued the following statement from President & CEO Tom Grech in response to the FY 2025 New York State budget, which includes a historic deal to create affordable housing and steps to combat retail theft: “We applaud Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and members of the legislature for delivering a budget that includes a historic agreement to spur the much-needed development of new affordable housing, and strong action to combat retail theft. “Everyday I speak with business owners who are deeply concerned about the affordability crisis. In order for our borough and our entire state to remain competitive, we need to quickly develop thousands of affordable residential units to drive down the cost of living for workers and their families. This agreement takes on the affordability crisis head on. It includes an extension of 421a for six years for projects already underway, and introduces 485x – which will encourage the development of affordable units. It lifts outdated regulations, creates an innovative pilot program for ADUs so homeowners can create units on their properties, and offers incentives for office-to-residential conversions. We look forward to seeing shovels in the ground here in Queens County. “Additionally, the budget takes strong action to curb retail theft by enhancing protections for retail workers, improving accountability and offering a tax break so businesses can upgrade their security systems. We are grateful that the Governor and the Legislature have listened to our concerns, and taken action to support businesses and workers throughout the state.”
Today, The Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation has announced its funding of all seven Queens county colleges for student scholarships. Each of the seven schools received funding from the Foundation to be used to benefit both part-time and full-time students who attend school while working. The Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation is the 501(c)3 affiliate of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, with the mission of fostering and promoting institutions of higher learning in the borough. “The Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation believes that education and training are the cornerstones of a strong community and we are committed to supporting our area students in their educational pursuits,” said Tom Grech, Vice President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation and President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Through these scholarships we hope to honor those students who contribute to our workforce by working while attending school. We look forward to learning about the recipients of these awards.” “The world-class educational institutions that call Queens home are vital to the present and future of our local economy,” said Marian Conway, President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “Our colleges and universities do an outstanding job preparing their students to join the workforce, and we are delighted to help support that effort with this initiative.” The seven schools receiving scholarship funds include: LaGuardia Community College, Plaza College, Queens College, Queensborough Community College, St. John’s University, Vaughn College, and York College. School administrators expressed their gratitude to the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation for its scholarship donation to assist students in pursuing their education. “Half of CUNY’s students work while attending school, and we are committed to removing financial barriers that can impede their attainment of educational and career goals,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We thank the Queens Chamber of Commerce for these scholarship funds, which will help students at CUNY's Queens colleges, and for supporting our mission of elevating New Yorkers through higher education.” “The generous support from the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation will significantly reduce the financial burden of receiving a college education for many students who will become the leaders of our community and key industries that shape our economy,” said Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College. “We are grateful to the Foundation’s recognition of our collective efforts to offer quality higher education to students in Queens.” "Plaza College is honored to receive these scholarship funds for our students, many of whom are Queens residents studying for highly-skilled and in-demand degrees that will allow them to tangibly contribute to our thriving community after graduation, said President Charles Callahan III. “We appreciate the continued support the Queens Chamber of Commerce provides for the students, businesses, and community at large in the borough of Queens." “A Queens College education provides a foundation on which extraordinarily successful futures are built,” said Queens College President Frank H. Wu. “It is a place where we take enormous pride in the fact that many of our students are the first in their families to earn a college degree. We are deeply fortunate to receive this funding from the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation to benefit part-time and full-time students who attend school while working. It will be an enormous support to students, in particular, those who are immigrant wage earners helping to support their families while they attend college." "More than half of Queensborough students report a household income of less than $30,000 a year and work while attending school, but often tell us what they earn is still not enough to fully fund their education," said Queensborough Community College President Christine Mangino. "The scholarships from the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation will support our hard-working students and help close the gap so they can earn their degree." "St. John's University is enriched by our Queens location and a tapestry of cultures complementing an internationalized curriculum. Our New York City roots and a long relationship with the Queens Chamber of Commerce help fortify connections to the companies and opportunities found in one of the world’s most globally connected cities. St. Johns is grateful for the support received from The Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help our students,” said Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President, St. John's University. "We are grateful to the Foundation for its support of the students at Vaughn College and the borough," said President and Chief Executive Officer Sharon B. DeVivo. "Scholarships alleviate the financial burden for students from under resourced communities and allow them to achieve their dream of a college education and a fulfilling career trajectory." “At York College, we have a long tradition of providing quality education that leads to careers in medicine, aviation, the arts, education, athletics, business, and so much more,” York College interim President Claudia Schrader said. “Most of our students finance their college education with federal grants, loans, and scholarships from donors like the Chamber Foundation. The Chamber’s scholarship will help make their futures ‘take flight.’” Press release available for download, below.
The Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in Queens, will hold the inaugural Queens’ Best Halal Restaurant Competition throughout April and May. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate and vote for their favorite halal eatery over the course of several weeks. All restaurants, regardless of cuisine, are eligible for nomination as long as the restaurant is certified halal. Within the food and beverage industry, halal refers to anything permissible to consume according to Muslim tradition and rules. “Queens is one of the most diverse places on earth and nothing showcases that diversity more than the restaurants across our great borough,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “From savory kebabs to creamy pastas, the halal restaurant scene in Queens is booming and covers a wide array of cuisines, and I look forward to visiting the winning restaurant and trying some of their delicious offerings.” The Chamber is accepting nominations from the public at https://bit.ly/QueensBestHalal. Nominations open on Wednesday, April 10, to coincide with Eid-ul-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan when Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset. They will close on Friday, April 19. Public voting will start on Monday, April 22 and run through Tuesday, April 30. The winner will be crowned with the title of Queens’ Best Halal Restaurant on Friday, May 3. The winning eatery will receive bragging rights, along with a complimentary membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. Press release for download, below.
The Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in Queens, congratulates 14 restaurants from across the borough included on the 2024 “100 Best Restaurants in New York City” list featured in The New York Times. Restaurant critic Pete Wells compiled the list and ranked the city’s top restaurants based on his dining adventures over the past 12 months. The following Queens establishments are included on the list:
"Queens is a melting pot, and you can really taste that in the amazing food scene across the borough," said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. "We're thrilled to have some of NYC's top eats right here in Queens, with 14 local spots making the 'Best 100' list this year. They are creating jobs and opportunities for everyone, and we're rooting for their continued success." The full list of restaurants can be found on The New York Times website. Press release available, below.
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