Queens Chamber of Commerce Launches Restaurant311 Accelerator Program

Today, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in Queens, announced the launch of Restaurant311, a deep-dive accelerator program to provide specialized support to Queens restaurant and food business owners and operators. Under the program, small business owners will receive one-on-one business advising, coaching, and access to opportunities for business and tech support. Empire State Development will fund the program through a grant from the New York State Senate.

“Queens is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, serving delicious cuisines from every corner of the globe,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “These food and dining establishments do more than just add to the unique flavor of our communities, they are also vital to our local economy. They create jobs for residents and drive tourism to our neighborhoods. We are delighted to be able to launch this program to support Queens’ thriving restaurant industry, and thank Empire State Development and our Senate delegation for funding this important work.”

Under the program, restaurant and food business owners will receive one-on-one mentoring and support from the Queens Chamber’s food industry expert Laura Licona, who will assess the capacity and current needs of the food business or restaurant and create a tailored plan of action. Areas of support include: general restaurant consulting; business strategy; navigating government agencies; licensing and permits; product and brand development; food safety; menu engineering; staffing solutions; scaling; networking; collaborations; procurement; promotions and marketing; and tech solutions.

“Restaurant311 will help small businesses thrive, and in turn, support our local economy,” said Laura Licona, Executive Chef and head of Food and Culture at the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “I look forward to sharing my expertise with food businesses throughout the borough to help them grow, and continue contributing to Queens’ vibrant food and culture scene.”
"I am pleased to see the launch of Restaurant311, a vital program that will provide much-needed support to our local restaurant and food business owners in Queens. Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and this initiative, funded through a grant from the New York State Senate, demonstrates our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth," said State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. "I commend the Queens Chamber of Commerce for their dedication to providing specialized mentoring, coaching, and access to essential resources, and I am confident that this program will play a pivotal role in the success and resilience of our local food industry."
"Queens' restaurants and small food business owners bring extraordinary charm, culture and uniqueness to each neighborhood," said State Senator Leroy Comrie. "The launch of the Queens Chamber's Restaurant 311 Accelerator Program will bring a much needed lifeline to many of these establishments as it helps them navigate various oversight entities, hopefully preventing unnecessary barriers to entry or expansion. I am grateful that I was able to work with my colleagues within the New York Senate to help fund this program's launch and look forward to the positive results to come."

Restaurant311 is slated to help over 100 food businesses over the next 18 months. The Chamber will conduct outreach to small businesses who otherwise may be disconnected from assistance. Business owners can also sign up directly at the link here.

Press release available for download, below.

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