Downtown businesses reflect on 2022 success

Although businesses across the state are still recovering from the economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic, the Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District has made countless efforts to keep businesses thriving. To summarize the successes of the BID, it held its annual meeting on March 9 at Looks 2 Love in downtown Glen Cove. The evening included a presentation showing many smiling faces in the city during holiday celebrations, and a reflection on the BID’s 25 years of celebrating Downtown Sounds, the BID’s summer music festival. 

The evening kicked off with remarks from former Congressman Tom Suozzi, who created Glen Cove’s BID during his time as the city’s mayor. Suozzi stressed that the BID was a necessary step to help the struggling downtown businesses since the city’s downtown doesn’t have a similar infrastructure to places like downtown Huntington, which can accommodate higher foot traffic and vehicles. To incentivize more visitors to the downtown, Suozzi was part of a group that helped brainstorm holiday functions and events.

Patricia Holman, the BID’s executive director, presented slides and video clips of all the events, programs and improvements done for the downtown businesses and the community in 2022.

The BID is comprised of a board of directors, which is made up of eight downtown property owners, three downtown commercial tenants, and one residential tenant. It’s divided into four groups — finance, capital improvements, marketing, and economic development. In 2022, the BID received $200,000 in assessment from the property owners. 

“Some people believe it’s from the city, but these funds are paid to the BID from the property owners,” Holman said. “The city merely acts as a collecting agent. On top of the BID assessment the BID raised $104,000.”

Through a $25,000 grant initiated by Assemblyman Charles Levine and additional funding from the BID, funds were allocated to purchase new holiday decorations for 73 lampposts, which were installed by the city’s Department of Public Works and provided holiday banners. 

They also have a contract with landscapers to maintain most of the landscapes in the downtown area. Through a $5,000 grant from PSEG, the BID was able to purchase and continue their string light program that extended down Glen Street to Butler Street. 

The BID provides access to seasonal autumn flowers and decorations at a wholesale price for their members and provides fall decorations and scarecrows that are installed by DPW. 

The BID purchased five commercials that gave 20 commercial spots to businesses that participated, which aired an average of 124 times. They have updated their website to include a mobile-friendly interface.

The BID incorporated three new events to their calendar: Wellness Day, Halloween After Dark and Downtown Sounds Teen Idol. 

Holman concluded her presentation by discussing the possibility of a winter festival for February 2024 and are said they are brainstorming ways to continue bringing art to the downtown area. 

Lauren Babich, Kate Houghton and Ava Solange were lauded for their volunteerism to the downtown area. They have been devoted volunteers at various events over the past five years, and their commitment has been vital to the operation of Downtown Sounds. The three Glen Cove high school seniors are graduating this spring and are passing the reins on to the next group of volunteers.

“It has been such a pleasure working with them and a joy to watch them grow and mature,” Holman said. “But most importantly, I’ve been able to count on them to be there, to work hard and to act professional at our events over the past five years.”

“I truly started because my mom needed volunteers,” Solage said. “But it turned into one of the best decisions I’ve made. Along the way I learned leadership, persistence, communication, hard work, and most of all people skills. I would not be the same person that I am without having the opportunity to volunteer and lead volunteers.”