Roosevelt Island’s stagnant micro-economy, an all-too-familiar concern of merchants, was the impetus behind a meeting held Thursday afternoon at the request of the Island’s Chamber of Commerce.

The session at the RIOC office, called by Chamber head Julie Palermo, brought together several development organizations experienced in commercial and community revitalization. The groups are offering their financial advice and other assistance in a cooperative effort to create viable, sustainable solutions to the Island’s lagging economy.

Explaining that many Island merchants have come under serious financial pressure, Palermo began the meeting by emphasizing the merchants’ difficulties: “Our merchants are still suffering.  We need funding and, more importantly, we need to know how to make it work.”

Also in attendance was Herb Berman, president of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), who repeated concerns he had voiced in earlier meetings, about “shabby” aesthetics.  “We’re trying to create more of a shopping center mentality – a mall-like environment,” he said.

Agencies offering advice and possible assistance at the meeting included:

• The Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), representing the State Department of Economic Development, which runs the “I Love New York” tourism campaign.  ESDC Director Hector Santana said, “We’re talking broader than Main Street.  We need to make Roosevelt Island a destination.”

• The U.S. Small Business Administration, which is able to guarantee small-business loans from $3,000 to as much as $2 million for working capital, inventory, salaries, construction, and lines of credit for merchandise and other needs.

• The City’s Department of Small Business Services was represented at the meeting by Glynnis Enriques and has three branches: Neighborhood Development, which works with Business Improvement Districts, improving storefronts with canopies, awnings, and other visual enhancements; Workforce Development, which helps find employees and provides training; and Business Assistance, which helps with the details of what a small business needs, such as government permits.  In the case of a fire, Enriques said, “We’re your second call – right after FDNY.”

In addition to the governmental units, these organizations attended to offer help:

•  Accion New York, a nonprofit providing loans of $500 to $50,000 to small businesses that cannot get traditional commercial loans.  Accion works with a diverse clientele, including start-ups, home businesses, taxi-drivers, and artists.  It sponsors a monthly credit seminar in both English and Spanish.

•  The East Harlem and Manhattan Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, each represented by their presidents.  These groups have created a Chamber Alliance, which functions as an outreach mechanism for the small businesses in their own communities.  Such alliances enable, for example, what Henry Calderon of the East Harlem Chamber called cooperative marketing – where different communities direct their traffic over to other partner communities, creating a healthy circulation of business.

•  The South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, a program which, according to its literature, “provides energy audits for small businesses and other facilities to help them make informed electrical decisions and implement energy-efficiency strategies.”

Santana said the first step in securing financial assistance is a proposal identifying community needs, objectives, and funding required.  He urged the merchants at the meeting to find the flexibility to reinvent themselves.

A small-business owner himself, Calderon said he understands the merchant mentality. “They’re like the last cowboys.  They don’t want to be told what to do,” he said.

Praising the Island’s natural resources, many attending the meeting were eager to offer suggestions: Outdoor cafes, a restaurant near the water, a photographic expo, or even a regatta. Calderon said, “Play off the river – don’t just watch it go by.”

Santana stressed that all major decisions should ultimately be made by residents and merchants themselves.  He encouraged the Island’s Chamber to conduct surveys and schedule additional meetings to get a better understanding of what the different stakeholders would like to see changed or improved.  Palermo agreed to do so.

Santana also urged the merchants to involve legislators.  “If I can’t make an impact on Roosevelt Island,” concluded Santana in a joking manner, “then I’ll leave office.”