According to Xinhua News Agency, this month New York encountered a substantial growth in its business activity. There was an increase to 20.1 points for its main index number, with the general business conditions index surpassed expectations by of 15.5.
In terms of people’s level of satisfaction/happiness at the office it was hard to tell as 40 percent claimed conditions had improved throughout May but 20 percent said they had worsened. There are more employees though with the index for the number going up to 8.7
The index for number of employees edged up three points to 8.7, with a drop in hours for the average workweek. Perhaps even more importantly, there has been an increase in optimism for the next six months.
With the start of the New York International Auto Show on 1stof this month, attendees were subject to some wonderful new SUVs, trucks and some supercars.
With self-driving cars stealing a lot of car-lovers’ attention, one show stopper was the Genesis Essentia. This has actually been in the works since shortly after last year’s Auto Show with a design team led by Luc Donckerwolke. With its “fully retro-futuristic bubble roof,” it definitely commanded a lot of stares.
But that’s not all. Featuring over four floors of displays spanning international automakers, close to a thousand vehicles were displayed at “North America’s first and largest-attended auto show dating back to 1900.” Held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, from Friday March 30 to Sunday April 8, a $3 million Bugatti was among the most expensive vehicles featured.
New York is encouraging women and minority groups to New York. Those who own companies in the area are being invited to join the hub of New York and open their businesses there. Investing $40 million into this promotion, the city of New York is very serious about this.
This money will be used to help these companies – often left out in the cold – to access affordable loans. As well there is a new M/WBE program ad campaign featuring local success stories to encourage these companies to relocate.
Hopefully this initiative will reverse the trend coined by Market Watch analyst that found “female managers are not only under-represented in technology companies, they’re also paid significantly less than men.”
The latest announcement from these two bodies was the availability of $3.8 million as part of New York’s Geothermal Clean Energy Challenge. The idea behind this endeavor is to bolster the financing and installation of large-scale geothermal systems within state facilities.
While promoting the use of clean and sustainable energy, this also lends support to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s objective of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030. But what’s even greater is that with this endeavor, New York facilities can now apply for an analysis to determine whether their buildings can be fitted with geothermal for heating and cooling purposes. Of course, this will be directly beneficial to New Yorkers who will be able to benefit from the technology by saving on energy bills.
In addition, given that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) just installed nearly 950 solar energy panels on the main roof of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, that makes the building NYC’s “largest solar photovoltaic facility.” The panels measure three by five feet and are placed so that they can get the most sun exposure since they face the Hudson River.
For employees in New York who often have to make an accounting of either going to work while having a sick child at home or losing money, thanks to Brooklyn’s UncommonGoods this problem may soon be eliminated. Bringing home a new baby, caring for someone, helping a loved one or doing anything that requires one to not be at work but is surely not classified as a vacation, this small business is there to help.
With around 200 employees, the online unique product retailer is offering employees up to eight weeks of paid time per year for such situations. According to company CEO David Bolotsky, as well as being good for the employees, this makes economic sense. He explained:
“It’s important because families are important, and being able to care for loved ones is essential. Providing our workers with the ability to balance their personal needs with their work requirements, we think, is in our business interest as well.”
And thankfully, very soon, this policy will extend to other companies in New York. This is because on January 1, 2018, all businesses will be subject to a program that is being seen as one of the nation’s “most progressive family leave policies.”
In a gradual way, by 2021, families will be given up to 12 weeks paid time off for new children (meaning biological, adopted and fosters). This will extend to sick members of the family (including in laws and domestic partners) as well as those undergoing family pressures (such as military responsibilities).
The World Economic Forum’s video recording discussing matters of global challenges that impact multiple systems and thus require leadership to drive systemic change. Ways business can possibly work with the increasing complexity and lead the way as a force for good for people, planet and prosperity.
Alicia Green, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development in NYC, recently announced the establishment of the VR/AR hub for business creation, education, investment, research and training. The NYU Tandon School of Engineering has been chosen to develop and operate this – the first ever government funded hub at a 15,000 square foot space in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Students will be able to prepare at these hubs for careers in both these sectors (Virtual and Augmented Reality). Meanwhile the NYCEDC (New York City Economic Development Corporation) together with (MOME) the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has invested $6 million into the incubator.
It is hoped that this will result in: the support of new ventures (equipment, infrastructure and workspace) to startups; create a citywide VR/AR talent pipeline; ensure that the area has the highest quality VR/AR research center through expertise of those from NYU, Columbia, CUNY, to expand technological advance in these fields; develop the VR/AR Community and activate innovation in the field.
