Mount Vernon is open for business.
That”™s the theme of the city”™s first business Expo, scheduled for later this month.
“We”™re ready to just tell the world that we”™re open for business,” said Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young Jr. “We knew that in order for this city to grow and prosper, we had to build up the relationship with the business community. That”™s what we”™ve done, and we”™ve had success story after success story.”
The success stories include financier Warren Buffett”™s jewelry manufacturing business Richline Group Inc.; the breaking ground of the new Memorial Field on Sanford Boulevard next month; and approvals for a new mixed-use building on Gramatan Avenue.
“The city of Mount Vernon, led by the mayor”™s Office & Planning & Community Development Department and the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, has been planning the Expo since March,” said Brian Q.
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Bochow Jr., the mayor”™s deputy chief of staff. “The Expo itself will be held at City Hall, and it”™s actually just one of many pieces of the event. We have two breakfasts, each at a different location in Mount Vernon; business seminars; a real estate tour; job fair; and more.”
“The event will, hopefully, attract businesses from all over, not just locally,” said Patricia Smith, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Con Edison employee. “It is modeled after the Yonkers Business Week, and next year the plan is for five days.”
Con Edison is a $5,000 sponsor of the Expo, Smith said.
Howard L. Feigenbaum, owner of The Fleetwood Deli-Caf̩ on Gramatan Avenue, is looking forward to the Expo. He hopes the event will give the cityӪs businesses a boost in the midst of a recession.
“People forget that there are 75,000 people that live in the city, and that covers the economic spectrum low to high,” Feigenbaum said. “I”™ve been here for 18 years, and one of the things that excited me about Mount Vernon is we have every highway and parkway and three Metro-North stations coming through the city. I”™ve been able to grow my catering business because of the location I”™m in.”
Mount Vernon has a storied past, Feigenbaum said, and he would like to see the city get back to that.Â
“Fourth Avenue at one time was the premier shopping strip in southern Westchester,” Feigenbaum said. “Cross County was originally planned for that location.”
Young said the city has a “full spectrum of businesses” that are scheduled to participate.
“There”™s room for all businesses here,” Young said. “We understand that people are in business to make a living and we feel that we”™ve put all the right elements in place for the anticipation of being successful.”
The Expo will be held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. For more information about the Mount Vernon Business Expo 2009, call 667-7500 or visit www.mvBizExpo.com.
