The Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in the borough, is now accepting votes for its Queens’ Best Frozen Dessert Competition. Members of the public are encouraged to vote for their favorite eatery in the borough from among 14 nominated establishments at https://bit.ly/QueensBestFrozenDessertVote through Friday, September 6. 

“As summer in the city winded down, the public shared their thoughts on who they think deserves the title of Queens Best Frozen Dessert business,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “More than a dozen excellent eateries from across our great borough were nominated, and I can’t wait to see who takes the number one spot and to try some of their sweet treats!”

Nominations for the contest were collected over the course of several weeks and include the following businesses:
 

• Artisan (41st Avenue, Bayside)
• Benfaremo: The Lemon Ice King Of Corona (108th Street, Corona)
• Coastal Frozen Yogurt (Rockaway Beach Drive, Rockaway Park)
• Eddie’s Sweet Shop (Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills)
• Great East Boba (Union Street, Flushing)
• La Dolce Italia (Metropolitan Avenue, Flushing)
• La Guli Pastry Shop (Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria)
• LuLu’s Bakery (Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows)
• Maria’s Ice Cream Parlor (Beach Street, Rockaway Beach)
• Max & Mina’s Ice Cream (Main Street, Flushing)
• Only Rare NYC (Merrick Boulevard, Laurelton)
• Sheikhs N Burgers (164th Street, Jamaica)
• Soft Swerve (Prince Street, Flushing)
• Twist It Top It (Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach)

The winner will be crowned with the title of Queens’ Best Frozen Dessert at an event on Thursday, September 12. The winning eatery will receive bragging rights, along with a complimentary membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The second and third place winners will receive certificates.

​Press release available for download, below.

The Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in Queens, will close out summertime with its inaugural Queens’ Best Frozen Dessert Competition throughout August and September. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate and vote for their favorite restaurant serving up frozen desserts over the course of several weeks.
 
“As we close out summer in Queens, we want to honor those businesses that helped keep us cool on these hot summer days,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “From ice cream to snow cones and everything in between, we want to know who serves up the best frozen dessert in the borough! I can’t wait to cool off with the winning establishment next month!”

The Chamber is accepting nominations from the public at https://bit.ly/QueensBestFrozenDessert.

Nominations will kick off on Friday, August 16. They will close on Monday, August 26. Public voting will start on Thursday, August 29 and run through Friday, September 6.
 
The winner will be crowned with the title of Queens’ Best Frozen Dessert at an event on Thursday, September 12. The winning eatery will receive bragging rights, along with a complimentary membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The second and third place winners will receive certificates.

Press release available for download, below.

New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Acting Commissioner Dynishal Gross announced that the city is awarding $4.4 million in grants to 25 organizations, including the Queens Chamber of Commerce, to support projects designed to revitalize commercial corridors and enliven the public realm, including neighborhood food tours, street fairs, public murals, and marketing for local small businesses. Multi-year grants will be disbursed to community-based organizations (CBDOs) and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across the five boroughs. The new round of grants builds on the administration’s historic investment of more than $27 million in neighborhood development since 2022.
“We’re thrilled to receive this grant; it’s a real boost for our commercial corridors and the neighborhoods that make Queens special,” said Tom Grech, President & CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “With the continued support of NYC Department of Small Business Services, we can deliver the services that the small businesses of Queens need.”

“Since day one of our administration, we have centered our economic recovery on bringing back the vibrancy of our commercial corridors and the livability of our neighborhoods,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “This round of grants expands on our historic investments in neighborhood development with the inclusion of our first-ever Public Realm Grants, which will bring innovative and creative improvements to corridors that will enhance public safety and improve the street-level experience in neighborhoods across the city.”
“I am so proud to announce SBS’s next round of neighborhood development grants, including the first-ever NDD Public Realm Grants,” said SBS Acting Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “Our city’s commercial corridors aren’t just places people shop, but places where people from all walks of life meet, mix, work, visit, and live. By investing in our city’s diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, we are investing in everyone who calls our city home.”
“Our public realm partners do so much to help the city, and it is so important that the city also helps them continue to do the critical work of creating lively and vibrant communities,” said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “I applaud SBS for providing millions of dollars in necessary grants to our city partners. I cannot wait to see the projects that will come to life from these grants providing much needed support to our community-based organizations and Business Improvement Districts.”
“From public art and street fairs to small business promotion and professional development, these grants from SBS will enable our trusted community partners to do what they do best and further invigorate their neighborhoods,” said “New” New York Executive Director B. J. Jones. “Commercial corridors throughout the city are being revitalized thanks to their efforts and the Adams Administration’s continued historic investments to activate, program, and improve public space.”
 The AvenueNYC grant program includes:

• Completing a Commercial District Needs Assessment in the College Point neighborhood

• Implementing projects aimed at commercial revitalization, economic development, and enrichment of small business owners

• Using the results of the Commercial District Needs Assessment to create projects and programs spur economic development and provide support to small businesses in future years.

Press release available for download, below.