Neighborhood Challenge: TechForward Challenges

Many businesses in my districts don't have an online presence which could have helped cushion the blow from the current business shut-down. Many also don't have the skills to create an online identity and find the process intimidating. Social media/online presence would have been especially important to maintaining customers, moving seasonal retail goods, keeping employees during this shut down.

Aside from whatever measures are in place to protect employees and customers, businesses who have been closed due to the pandemic lockdown will inevitably have a lot to work through in order to reopen and stay open post-PAUSE. How, then, can technology companies help businesses make decisions around when to reopen?

Restaurants lose a tremendous amount of profit utilizing services such as grubhub, seamless and other delivery applications. While this has long been a concern, it has reached a critical point now that customers are only permitted to engage with the business in an online or take out fashion. It is also apparent that even after "re-opening" consumers are likely to be concerned and avoid gathering in restaurants.

Once businesses are allowed to open in some fashion post-PAUSE, forms of social distancing, testing, contact tracing, temperature checks, and other safety measures be in place to protect public safety for potentially years until a vaccine is universally applied or herd immunity is acquired. Retail businesses, in addition to all buildings where the public enters, will need to have protocols/technology in place to maintain... more »

Even as formal social-distancing restrictions ease up, maintaining distance will likely still be a concern for customers for months and even years to come. How can technology help grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers as well as bars and restaurants monitor density and control traffic in their space and ensure people feel comfortable shopping in person?

There will be a significant time period prior to a vaccine/elimination of the virus when businesses are allowed to gradually reopen, but social distancing and other precautions must remain in place. This has the potential to be an insurmountable challenge for restaurants and other small businesses where financial stability was already unsteady even before the pandemic. Restaurants in particular must pack as many customers... more »

With so much of the city's population stuck in their homes for most of the day, a recurring theme over the last month has been the lack of space to be outdoors to get fresh air, exercise, and maintain good mental health. This problem will only escalate as the weather warms and once non-essential businesses are allowed to begin reopening. BIDs and other neighborhood groups have been trying to address elements of this problem... more »

As we transition to more virtual events, we are looking to find/build best practices on utilizing technology for virtual events, and to document which platforms work best for varying event types.

The Central Business District and neighborhood commercial strips throughout NYC will see the number of vacant storefronts increase and remain empty for a long time.

NYC and private companies should partner to:

1. continue previously established efforts to inventory vacant storefronts and set benchmarks for actively managing retail vacancy city-wide.

2. promote local organizations and corporate sponsors to partner with... more »

Businesses and workers will face great challenges as staffing needs change during and after the crisis. A major factor in economic recovery will be connecting local talent to jobs.

Many small businesses won't be able to rehire former employees who are not available to return. Many displaced workers will need to focus their job search and career paths in new directions while long-standing sources of employment will go... more »

Let's not allow 2020 to be "The Year Holiday Lights Went Dark."

For smaller civic organizations and Business Improvement Districts, avenue holiday lights are a significant part of their annual budget and a hallmark of their most highly visible annual "placemaking."

After social distancing requirements lift and businesses start to re-open, annual signs of community life will be more important than ever - especially since... more »

Many small businesses will face financial challenges re-stocking inventory to open after social distancing eases. Especially firms with low margins, perishable inventory, or unsteady supply chains.

Wholesalers and purveyors of all kinds may be unable or unwilling to offer terms to struggling retail businesses.

Difficulty restarting the normal flow of inventory, materials, and merchandise may be too much for rent-burdened... more »

In the wake of an economic collapse many of our commercial districts will be experiencing a wave of private disinvestment that threatens to downgrade our most vibrant places and make them appear to be shoddy, abandoned and/or forgotten. In order to attract to shoppers, and new businesses, BID's and CBO's will need increased capacity to create programming for unused space, safety improvements, art installations, and other... more »

As storefronts begin to reopen, income from sales may not reach previous levels for the foreseeable future, and businesses may find it hard to make ends meet. Assuming a protracted recovery time period, are there opportunities for small businesses to co-locate and share resources and expenses, everything from operations, deliveries and storage to staffing, utilities and rent? Are there industries that lend themselves... more »

I ❤️ NY

The "I [Heart] NY" logo and campaign were a prominent feature of NYC's resurgence after the dismal 1970s.

For NYC residents and visitors alike we need a shared image of recovery, welcome, and local pride.

What if there was a City-wide campaign with a distinctive and memorable visual style that symbolized our collective recovery? It could be branded on NYC shopping bags, PPEs, light pole banners, LinkNYC kiosks,... more »