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Avella unveils economic improvement plan

By Kelsey Durham

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) announced an economic plan this week aimed at bettering the lives of Queens residents through initiatives such as helping small businesses and improving transportation infrastructure.

Joined by several small business owners and members of local civic groups, Avella unveiled his six-point “Made in Queens” plan Tuesday outside Cascarino’s Pizzeria in College Point. The plan includes six separate pieces of legislation, including some that have already been introduced, which Avella said he believes will revitalize businesses and properties in the borough.

One of the main components, which Avella said was the “real key” to his plan, is a resolution that would provide a $2,400 tax credit to any small business with fewer than 15 employees that hires someone who has been on unemployment or other public assistance for a period of six months or longer.

“This plan is to help the economy and put people back to work not only here in the borough of Queens, but throughout the entire state,” Avella said. “This will allow the small business owner to expand their business and hire extra workers, but at the same time it will take people off the unemployment rolls.”

Another part of Avella’s “Made in Queens” plan focuses on reforming the Brownfield Opportunity Area program the state has in place, which provides funding for market and infrastructure studies aimed at putting abandoned properties back on the tax rolls.

Avella’s plan would introduce legislation that would require the Empire State Development agency to purchase these properties and fix them up before selling them to developers or firms.

As part of his initiative to help small businesses, Avella’s plan also includes legislation that would provide more financing options for small businesses, much of which he said was dried up after the recession hit in 2008.

“Small businesses account for most of the jobs not only in Queens but throughout the city and state,” he said. “We need to do something to help them because they’re in crisis.”

Rob Cascarino, owner of the pizza shop where Avella announced his plan, said any kind of tax credit or financing help the state could offer to business owners would go a long way.

“Days are tough,” he said. “It’s so hard to stay in business because of taxes and all these things you have to pay and before you know it, there isn’t enough money to go around anymore like there used to be.”

Avella’s plan also calls for improving transportation by rebuilding roads, highways and bridges. He said he also plans to introduce legislation to make commuting more affordable by offering toll relief for the Throgs Neck, Whitestone and RFK bridges.

The last leg of the “Made in Queens” plan calls for the creation of a Small Business Advisory Council made of business owners throughout Avella’s district who will provide feedback and suggestions on how to improve small business in Queens.

Avella said he planned on introducing legislation for each part of the plan individually beginning in January.

“If we could get this through, it would be really great,” said Jennifer Shannon, whose husband owns Genaro’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in College Point. “It’s hard to not only to open a new business but maintain one, which is why you see so many coming and going. Everything costs something.”

Reach reporter Kelsey Durham at 718-260-4573 or by e-mail at kdurh­am@cn­gloca­l.com.