The Yonkers Downtown BID has begun the new year with exciting and innovative programs designed to help merchants succeed.

First, I am pleased to announce that starting next Tuesday,  January 26, the BID will begin its second annual  free Sunrise Seminars in cooperation with the Yonkers Riverfront Library. It will feature monthly one-hour sessions starting
at 8 am to provide helpful information and tips on topics of interest to the business community. The kick-off presentation will be the first of two “Meet the Media” seminars. It will include a panel of journalists who cover business and commerce in Westchester. They will include Ernie Garcia,  The Journal News; John Golden, Westchester County Business Journal; Dan Murphy, Yonkers Rising; News 12 (reporter to be named) and writer John Jordan. It will be moderated by Peter G. Klein, Vice Chair of the Downtown BID and Project Manager for Struever Fidelco Cappelli (SFC).

Future seminars will be “Find Your Way Though the Municipal Maze,” “Internet Marketing Including Social Media,” “Green is Smart Business,” a session on Economic  Development and others. Details about dates, times, panelists will be announced later. Be sure to visit www.yonkersdowntown.com for more information.

I invite you to attend these informal, instructive gatherings that proved to be very popular last year when they were introduced. Not only will you come away armed with knowledge and insight but you will enjoy the rapport and interaction with the panelists and with other attendees. And the Riverfront Library is a very warm and comfortable venue for these gatherings. So mark your calendar and join us to learn something new. There will be coffee waiting for you too. 
The BID’s other major new initiative is  “The Heart of Yonkers” in collaboration with the Yonkers Riverfront Library. It will take place throughout the month of February because all the activities planned are tied to Valentine’s Day. In addition to the BID again decorating the streets with hundreds of red balloons to welcome shoppers and residents for the year’s most romantic day, it will promote the special offerings from participating merchants and restaurants for such items as  flowers, jewelry, candy, dining and a host of other gift ideas.
The BID  will  communicate the merchants’ special offerings in an e-blast that will reach thousands of potential customers and through its website, www.yonkersdowntown.com. In addition, we will encourage merchants to join in decorating their storefronts with red hearts and other themed signage to promote their merchandise.

In addition, in collaboration with the Yonkers Riverfront Library to celebrate “The Heart of Yonkers,” every Thursday evening there will be a free screening of a popular romantic film. The schedule is “Moonstruck” on February 4; “Chocolat” on February 11; “Proposal” on February 18 and “Dance with Me” on February 25.  In addition, the BID will promote restaurants that will be offering dinner specials on the evenings of the screenings.

And, of  course, a number of restaurants will feature live music by top-notch performers, adding to the enjoyment of  “The Heart of Yonkers”” or to any night out on the town for that matter. I wish you and yours a very healthy and prosperous New Year.