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Staten Island Group Looks to Open Business Incubator and Artist Space

By Nicholas Rizzi | March 13, 2015 12:25pm
 The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation plans to open a New Dorp Artist Shared Workspace on New Dorp Lane and a South Shore Business Incubator in Great Kills, Eltingville or Annadale.
The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation plans to open a New Dorp Artist Shared Workspace on New Dorp Lane and a South Shore Business Incubator in Great Kills, Eltingville or Annadale.
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DNAinfo/Nicholas Rizzi

NEW DORP — A Staten Island group is looking for landlords willing to donate space for a new business incubator and a shared workspace.

The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation is looking for locations in Great Kills, Eltingville or Annadale to open its Shore Business Incubator.

The group wants to open a separate New Dorp Artist Shared Workspace somewhere along New Dorp Lane, according to a request for proposals the group released recently.

For both projects, the SIEDC is asking for landlords to donate a 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot space where rent will be free until the incubator and workspace open, Grillo said.

Co-working spaces and art galleries are prolific in neighborhoods like Stapleton and St. George, but they haven't reached further into the borough and SIEDC is hoping to fill the gap, said Steve Grillo, a vice president for the group.

"There's been great work on the North Shore and we're just trying to take that and translate it to here," Grillo said.

"Most of all the cultural stuff is on the North Shore. We're saying there's nothing wrong with that, let's just keep moving it in."

The shared workspace will include studios for artists to rent and communal spaces for workshops, art galleries, music performances and more, Grillo said.

The SIEDC recently started the New Dorp Merchants Group to help improve economic activity there, and he's counting on the addition of an art space to help drive more foot traffic to the area.

"I think it's a really strong commercial corridor, what were doing there is just adding to the product," he said. "Instead of just going into the restaurant and leaving again, they can take a stroll. It's all about getting people to stay there longer."

The SIEDC's also wants to launch an incubator to offer startups and small businesses a place to work, so they don't have to travel to Brooklyn or New Jersey to find space, Grillo said.

The incubator will have conference rooms, offices spaces and desk spaces, Grillo said.

The SIEDC has also been working with Councilman Vincent Ignizio and the South Shore LDC to set up a Business Improvement District to bring in private sanitation services, plan community events and increase business in the area.

The City Council will vote on the BID at the end of the month and would be up and running next year if approved, Grillo said.

The deadline for RFPs for both projects is April 15, and the spaces are expected to be up and running by the end of the year, Grillo said.

For more information on the projects call 718-477-1400, or email Varun Sanyal about the South Shore Business Incubator and John Rodriguez about the New Dorp Artist Shared Workspace.