Economic Development, Technology and Communications

Economic Development – the Committee works to encourage and support existing businesses and future commercial business, understanding that one of the key elements of a thriving community is flourishing businesses and equal opportunity. The Committee works with developers, business improvement districts, merchant associations and government agencies to foster the creation and retention of small, locally based businesses by creating a business friendly environment in Central Harlem that increases the commercial and retail opportunities for our residents. Additionally, the Committee is tasked with reviewing and issuing recommendations on NY State Liquor Authority liquor license applications and the Department of Consumer Affairs Sidewalk Café applications.

List of Guest Speakers:

Camille Santistevan, Assistant Program Director, Education Outreach, City University of New York Center For Advanced Technology.

Ms. Kathryn Finney, Founder and Managing Director, Digital Undivided.

Ms. Reshma Saujani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Girls Who Code.

Samuel Sia, Co-Founder, Harlem BioSpace.

Ms. Regina Smith, Executive Director, Harlem Business Alliance.

Dr. Sat Bhattacharya, Founder, Harlem Children Society.

Mr. Alex Betancourt, Executive Vice President, Harlem Commonwealth Council

Mr. Wayne Benjamin, AIA, Director of Residential and Commercial Development, Harlem Community Development Corporation

Ms. Melissa Lee, Harlem DNA Lab Manager, Harlem DNA Lab

Ms. Erika Gillette, Program Director, HYPOTHEkids

Zenaida Mendez, Director of External Affairs, Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Ms. Rachel S. Haot, New York State Deputy Secretary for Technology, New York Office of Information Technology Services

Ms. Tiana McFarlane, Director of Education and Technology, New York Urban League Technology Learning Center

Brittany Saunders, Deputy Counsel to the Mayor of New York City, Office of The Counsel to The Mayor of The City of New York

Mr. Christian Cordova, Senior Trainer, Older Adults Technology Services

Bruce Lincoln, Executive Producer, Silicon Harlem

Clayton Banks, Executive Producer, Silicon Harlem

Mr. Jason Ohene, Relationship Manager, Spring Bank

Ms. Yvahn Martin, Co-Organizer, Upper Manhattan/ Harlem Co-Working Meetup Group

For a full list of speakers biographies, click link: Biographies

The Harlem Technology Forum Press Release, click link: The Harlem Technology Forum Press Release

Questions? Please Contact Community Board 10 at: (212) 749-3105