LAUREL K. BROWN with NYC MAYOR, MICHAEL BLOOMBERG AND SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER WALSH PRESENT 12th ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS AT GRACIE MANSION

Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion with Laurel Brown (Far Right) 

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER WALSH PRESENT 12^th ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Awards Honor Organizations and Individuals for Their Outstanding Impact on New York City’s Neighborhoods

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, and New York City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert W. Walsh presented the 2013 Neighborhood Achievement Awards today to recipients from all five boroughs for their outstanding impact on New York City’s neighborhoods. Established in 2002, the awards honor organizations, businesses and individuals that have demonstrated excellence in enhancing New York City neighborhoods by fostering economic opportunity. This year’s awards included a new category called the Helping Hand Award, to honor a business, organization, or individual that went above and beyond to help the people, businesses, and neighborhoods affected by Hurricane Sandy. The awards were presented at Gracie Mansion. The BID Leadership Award was presented to three individuals.

• Laurel Brown / Jamaica Center Business Improvement District, Queens – Laurel Brown, Executive Director of the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District (BID), is responsible for making Jamaica Center a thriving business hub and enjoyable destination to work, live and visit. The BID provides sanitation, graffiti removal, maintenance, and marketing services to the district. Last year the Jamaica Center BID's Clean Team logged over 17,000 hours removing 1,100 tons of litter from nearly 50,000 trash bags from Jamaica Avenue, averaging three tons of garbage every day. Laurel manages her large district with limited resources, yet she is constantly encouraging her staff, colleagues, and youth in the community.  READ More...