APRIL 2016 • Volume 12 • Issue 04 1 Freelancers Are At Home In Queens With technology allowing us to work outside a traditional office space, it should be no surprise that more people are working independently than ever, and many are taking advantage of everything Queens has to make a living. It certainly makes a lot of sense. The borough continues to grow its technology and arts industries, and many of those freelancing are graphic designers, computer programmers, or just starting out their careers. They come to Queens because of the lower rents and the several co-working spaces that are here. WeWork AL PENNISI PRESIDENT OF THE QCC just opened its first location in Queens right in the arts district across the street from Kauffman Astoria Studios, and is in addition to spaces such as QNS Collective and Local Project. Even though rents have gone up, you can still find a good deal on a studio or one bedroom apartment, making it a convenient place to have your office and home nearby. To count how many people are in the freelance economy, economists look at the number of 1099’s and W2’s filed with the IRS, which continue to go up. It is estimated that there are now 1.3 million freelance workers in New York City. Between the third quarter of 2013 and the fourth of 2014, the number of these filings increased 5 percent in New York City. Payment can range from six hundred to 50 thousand dollars, depending on length and what they are asking for. With many freelance positions mandating a lot of time on the computer, co-working spaces provide opportunity for freelancers to meet new peo ple for referrals or find ways to work on projects together. This is especially helpful for people new to the City. These spaces also provide coffee and snacks, and are in areas where there is plenty of restaurants and coffee shops you can go after work. Larger companies enjoy using freelancers as well. Not only is it less expensive than hiring a full time employee, but you can find someone who has specific skills for what they need at that time. With more skills needed in today’s workforce and other ways to find jobs, all signs point to an increased number of people freelancing in the future, and it is exciting to see it happening right here in Queens. Spring Ahead at QCC With the weather warming up the Chamber is getting ready to host some great networking events this Spring. On Tuesday, April 12th, we are once again pleased to have the Director from the Department of City Planning, John Young, speak to our members about all the new developments taking place around the borough and the zoning issues that affect their progress. With the City Council passing new regulations pertaining to affordable housing, this will be a great opportunity for developers and investors to get their questions answered by someone in the know. Then on Thursday, April 14th our Technology Committee will have an expert on Cyber Security to discuss how to protect your work. We have all read the stories on how some of the largest companies in the country have been hacked, disrupting workflow and undercutting their customers confidence, but small companies are just as vulnerable. Michael DePalma from Datto will explain what you can do to protect your company and how you can keep working when they occur. This is on top of some very prominent speakers we had at our events in March. At our St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, 300 people came to Terrace on the Park where NYPD Commissioner William Bratton talked about what his Department is doing to keep Queens businesses and residents safe with new technology and community policing. Borough President Melinda Katz also came to update us on what her office was doing to grow Queens’ economy and the importance of keeping business corridors safe. Thanks to the Commissioner and the men and woman of the NYPD, along with our elected officials, the City today is safer than it has ever been in modern history, which is great for businesses and residences alike. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we were honored to host Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul. At our offices in the Bulova Corporate Center, attendees had a chance to hear firsthand what actions New York is taking to ensure fairness in the workplace and that woman have the resources they need to succeed. If you missed these events, I encourage you to take a look at our calendar and get involved. We are planning more real estate events and the biggest expo in Queens is just around the c orner. As I continue to travel around the borough seeing new faces, I always remind business owners that our job is to help them grow, but to do that you need to take the time and see everything the Chamber has to offer. THOMAS J. GRECH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF QCC
QB042016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above