queenschamber.org THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH ASTORIA BANK PRESENTS LAGUARDIA STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT Astoria Bank and LaGuardia Community College unveiled a new student photography exhibit on December 8 at Astoria Bank’s new Long Island City Branch. Members of the public are welcomed to visit the branch to view the exhibit, titled “LIC Past, Present & Future,” which explores the evolution of Long Island City. The exhibit, which runs through April 2017, celebrates LIC’s history as a hub of industrial design and manufacturing, its present day as a rapidly-developing neighborhood, and predictions of what its future may look like. LaGuardia’s commercial photography students were asked to canvas the neighborhood to capture LaGuardia student photographers with representatives from Astoria Bank, the QCC and the LIC Partnership YORK RECEIVES STARTUP NY PARTNER AND GRANT FOR PROGRAMMING ACADEMY 8 its energy, community, and markers of cultural significance. It was curated by LaGuardia Community College Photography Program Director Scott Sternbach and his team. The exhibit’s theme is especially meaningful for Astoria Bank, a full-service community bank which was established in Long Island City well over a century ago, as well as for LaGuardia Community College, which has been a prominent institution in LIC for forty-five years. “Giving our students an opportunity to showcase their work in a well-trafficked local business is enormously meaningful for our photography students,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “This gives them a taste of life as a working photographer, and provides valuable learning about all it takes to curate and execute a photography exhibit from start to finish. We’re enormously grateful to Astoria Bank for supporting our students in this way.” At an opening reception held at the branch, more than a dozen student photographers from LaGuardia Community College were joined by friends, family, professors and administrators, as well as members of the local business community who admired the students’ work. In recent months, Astoria Bank has partnered with LaGuardia Community College to fund a scholarship program for students pursuing associate’s degrees in commercial photography, and is also providing financial literacy workshops to help LaGuardia students better manage their personal finances now and into the future. “We are dedicated to making a difference in the Long Island City community and are proud of the wonderful partnership we have with LaGuardia Community College. Their students are passionate about developing their skills and careers, and we’re excited to showcase their work in our branch for the community to enjoy,” said Astoria Bank Executive Vice President Brian Edwards. ABOUT ASTORIA BANK Established in 1888, Astoria Bank is the second largest thrift depository in New York and provides its retail and business customers and the local communities it serves with quality financial products and services. About the Commercial Photography Program at LaGuardia Community College LaGuardia Community College was founded in 1971 and is the only two-year institution in the City University of New York (CUNY) to offer an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Photography. York College of CUNY recently finalized plans to have York Analytical Laboratories, Inc., an independent testing laboratory of environmental samples including water, soil, and air for regulated contaminants, as its first StartUp New York partner. York Analytical Labs is physically based on the Richmond Hill campus at York College’s STARTUP NY incubator facility, so it enjoys the tax-free benefits of its association with STARTUP NY through York College. The college is looking forward to research and internship opportunities for students in the environmental sciences. Chosen as one of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s STARTUP NY sites, York College chose York Analytical because its interests align with at least two academic programs at the college: earth science and environmental science. As an Empire State Development Start-Up NY site, businesses are expanding in Queens in general and in the greater and downtown Jamaica areas. Advanced manufacturing and tech firms wishing to expand to Jamaica’s tax-free zone (TFZ) have the opportunity to reinvest in their existing businesses in order to grow, free of corporate and personal tax burdens at the state level for ten years. This is also a prime time and place to launch new ventures with the benefits of this unique program. “We are excited by this tremendous opportunity,” said Dr. Marcia Keizs, president of York College. “We look forward to working with our partners to bring emerging or expanding businesses to downtown Jamaica, Queens, and are pleased that we are well on our way toward that goal with York Analytics.” With more than 8,500 students, 205 full-time faculty and hundreds of adjuncts and staff, York College and the Jamaica business district represent a golden opportunity for new and existing investors to take advantage of the college’s ability to provide tech firms with trained talent. York College also recently received a grant from the City University of New York to launch a computer programming academy on campus through its Continuing and Professional Education program. The program will cater to youth between the ages of 18 and 24 with high school or equivalency diplomas and is free of charge. It is the first of its kind in the area. ABOUT STARTUP NY STARTUP NY is Governor Cuomo’s initiative to create tax-free communities for new and expanding businesses on or near SUNY and CUNY campuses throughout the state of New York. The initiative provides incentive for businesses to locate or expand in these zones operating as tax-free entities for ten years. Approved business entities pay no state corporate state or personal income taxes by receiving business tax-free New York area elimination credit. This credit would be calculated by the business when filing its tax return. For businesses with 100% of their operations (assets and payroll) in a tax-free area(s), the credit would eliminate any state tax liability. For further information on either program contact Oslene Carrington at [email protected].
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