Thousands of guests and more than 100 businesses attended Long Island City’s annual, premier business-to-business event on November 10th. The Long Island City Partnership’s Trade Show and Luncheon is a showcase of local businesses ranging from services and real estate, to hotels, health care and catering. Immediately following the Trade Show, the LIC Partnership hosted a luncheon attended by area business and civic leaders, as well as government representatives.
The exhibitors at this year’s Trade Show were a cross-section of LIC’s diverse business community, including Bartleby Sage, Green Mountain Graphics, MoMA PS 1, Rosenwach Tank, RCN and Z Hotel.
“LIC’s diverse business landscape – industrial, commercial, tech, cultural, tourism and residential sectors – is a microcosm of New York City’s,” said Elizabeth Lusskin, President of the Long Island City Partnership. “The Partnership is also excited to honor Werwaiss Co. and Mount Sinai Queens for their pivotal roles in LIC’s renaissance and the health of our community.”
During the luncheon – attended by more than 350 guests – the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Daniel Huttenlocher, the founding Dean of Cornell Tech and the Partnership honored LIC-based businesses Werwaiss Co. and Mount Sinai Queens.
The first phase of the Cornell Tech campus will be completed in summer 2017 with the opening of three buildings. A new ferry stop will open on Roosevelt Island, and provide a direct connection between the campus and LIC.
“Long Island City and western Queens are integral to the NYC tech ecosystem, and we can’t wait for our new campus to help bolster and accelerate that community when it opens next year,” said Dr. Huttenlocher. “To be successful we need to be surrounded by a community of not only startups, but diverse business and local groups across sectors, and with the Partnership’s leadership that community is blossoming here in Long Island City.”
In recognition of its role in LIC’s renaissance, the Partnership honored Werwaiss Co., a fourth-generation family owned real estate business based in New York City with commercial, industrial and retail properties in LIC. Their redevelopment of the Lion Match Building has attracted marquee office tenants and the repositioning of a former factory adjacent to the Kaufman Astoria Studios, has grown the retail options in the neighborhood.
“The recent changes in Long Island City demonstrate what our family has long-known: Long Island City is an ideally located, transportation-rich mixed use neighborhood and community,” Gretchen Werwaiss, Partner, Werwaiss Co., Inc. “We are excited to be a part of its successes and are grateful to the Long Island City Partnership’s staff, Board and members for all of their efforts in achieving them.”
Additionally, the Partnership presented the William D. Modell Community Service Award to Mount Sinai Queens in appreciation of its commitment to the community over the past century. The hospital’s recent multi-million dollar renovation and expansion allows it to better serve the health needs of LIC and significantly expand its medical and surgical capacity.
“We are honored to receive the Long Island City Partnership’s William D. Modell Community Service Award,” said Caryn Schwab, Executive Director of Mount Sinai Queens. “Having access to first-class health care is our commitment to helping make Long Island City and the Borough of Queens the best it can be. With our new facilities, talented physicians, nurses, and other staff, the residents of Queens can get great care right here in Queens.”
