Hempstead Six is an Initiative by the people of Hempstead for the people of Hempstead to revitalize the Village’s downtown through six priorities: Cultural Business District, Village Beautiful, Public Safety, Youth + Education, Jobs + Career Training, Entrepreneurial Development. Through the participation of hundreds of local residents, community leaders and business owners over the course of numerous meet-ups and work sessions, the Hempstead Six represents how the people of the Village of Hempstead define downtown revitalization. Each month, their ideas are supported through a Grant Program to help transform their vision into reality. Learn more about how you can become a part of this inclusive process, as well as how you may participate in the Hempstead Six Grant Program by contacting us at renewhempstead.com/grants.

Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2016

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Renew Hempstead | Quarterly NewsletterFIRST EDITION

2 FIRST EDITION

PUBLIC SAFETYSHELTON MUNLIN, a champion of the Public Safety Initiative, was awarded a grant by the community to certify village residents in security, creating the opportunity to put local residents to work. “The Public Safety Initiative is beneficial for the Village of Hempstead because it will provide the framework for establishing a safer environment through the use of community members in a more hands-on role. The Initiative will give qualified community members the information needed to provide a secure environment for all. Informing and empowering community members through training, information, and hands-on experience will be a direct benefit of this Initiative. A Public Safety Training + Community Service Program will not only allow Hempstead residents to give back to their own community, it will also give them the knowledge and experience to obtain employment in a rapidly growing field.”

hempsteadsixthe voices of

VILLAGE BEAUTIFULJESUS TURCIOS, Co-Owner, Punto Uno Pizzeria, ”As a local business owner in Hempstead Village, I support the Hempstead Six “Village Beautiful” Initiative as this effort raises the overall morale in the Village. This Initiative inspires healthy living, clean streets and continues to make our community more aesthetically appealing! Hempstead Six benefits the Village of Hempstead by providing “seed” grants each month to jumpstart fresh new ideas in our community. Let’s keep up this great work!”

Learn more at renewhempstead.com/h6

CULTURAL BUSINESS DISTRICTDENNIS JONES, President of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, “As a resident and homeowner, I am excited about the thought and the plans behind the Cultural Business District Initiative - it would be significant for the Village of Hempstead’s prosperity. The diversity that exists in our Village is a well-knitted fabric which allows for an energetic and dynamic display of what makes us all rich. Having a concerted effort to showcase the village’s historical, artistic and culinary strengths will only prove to draw us closer together, while making us a regional destination once again. Let’s do it now!”

JORGE GUZMAN, Founding Director of the Ikarus Gallery Cultural Program, “The Cultural Business District Initiative supports our current need to develop common bonds through artistic intercultural dialogue. It provides artists with an opportunity to preserve and enhance the vitality of our local cultures. Through creative events and programs, we can work in unity for a shared cause that allows us to be better human beings, do good things without expectation, and provide positive alternatives to violence and ignorance.”

JOYSETTA PEARSE, Executive Director of the African American Museum, “A Cultural Business District that effectively represents the art, music and traditions of the community it encompasses can bring new businesses and consumers from outside the area, and bolster existing businesses, creating a positive impact on the local economy. A multi-cultural regional/ recurring cultural business district event series, featuring diverse music and art, in sync with local demographics, would benefit the community by enhancing its image and reputation.”

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ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENTLEONEL ESCOBAR, Co-Owner of El Portero, ”The Hempstead Six Entrepreneurial Development Initiative has been a positive force and a beacon of light in the Village of Hempstead. I have participated in a variety of programs that have empowered me to be a solid citizen and a credit to my community. Some of the events I participated in include: The Latino Chat and Chew, Young Adult Network, and the community meetups. Hempstead Six continues to inspire the residents and local businesses in the Village!”

GINA SLATER PARKER, a champion of the Entrepreneurial Development Initiative, “Being an entrepreneur takes guts. It doesn’t matter if you’re setting out on your own for the first time or have been maintaining your business for many years – successfully managing a business is a serious culmination of activities, but nevertheless, an exhilarating undertaking. Renew Hempstead is committed to entrepreneurial success; by providing access to effective business resources, and the economic development tools entrepreneurs need to support and grow their businesses.”

YOUTH + EDUCATIONSHALANA SMITH, Hempstead High School Graduate M.S., “The goals of the Hempstead Six Initiatives are exactly what I have in mind. I’m a testament to the Hempstead Six Youth and Education Initiative supporting young people in the Village and our needs. With the help of the Hempstead Six grants, I was able to execute a platform for up-and-coming artists to perform, and talent showcase. For the first time, I’ve felt like my thoughts and needs mattered and have been financially backed up by the votes from the people of my community. I feel validated!

ANTONIO GOMEZ, President of Long Island Soccer Federation, ”The importance of involving our youth in sports is a priority. Consistent with the Hempstead Six Youth + Education Initiative, I and my members welcome the opportunity to create and support a positive environment. Sports are a universal language and the Hempstead Six Youth + Education Initiative is a perfect fit for our gooooooals!!!”

REGINALD STROUGHN, former Hempstead High principal, “In order to improve the education in the Hempstead Public School District, we must increase community outreach to students and their parents, recruit qualified administrators and work on uniting Hempstead residents. We will be including the voices of teachers, parents and students in conversation about school reform. All of this can change if we focus on getting the right people in leadership positions and finally listen to what the young people feel they need.”

JOBS + CAREER TRAININGREGINALD BENJAMIN, a champion of the Jobs + Career Training Initiative, “It is quite obvious that a critical component of the Hempstead Six Initiative is to create a thriving community through economic development. Jobs and career training are essential to the economic mobility and redevelopment of any community. The Hempstead Six Initiative is striving to create a culture that can, and will empower Hempstead residents to take advantage of the economic “revival” of the Village of Hempstead. In a nutshell, because of the Hempstead Six prioritization of Jobs and Career training and development, the former glory that the elders of our Village so glowingly reminisce about, will pale in comparison to the economic benefits that will be ushered in by a new generation of well-trained, well-prepared young people. I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE HEMPSTEAD SIX INITIATIVE!”

4 FIRST EDITION

The Renew Hempstead Team is dedicated to keeping our community up to date regarding the redevelopment of downtown Hempstead Village. For those who have not been at one of our recent meetings, the great news is that the first phase of construction is expected to start this spring on Washington and Front Streets, bringing much needed economic development to the downtown to kick off the revitalization. This important first step will be followed by the highly anticipated development on Main Street, with a mix of new shopping and retail options, an array of restaurants and offices to compliment additional residential choices in the Village.Combined, these early stages of construction will provide the necessary critical mass of activity to ensure a complete transformation of the North Main Street area into one of Long Island’s most exciting, economically active and culturally vibrant live, work, shop, learn and play locations.

REVITALIZATION UPDATE Winter 2016

Future Phase

FirstPhase

Main StreetDevelopment

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Q. I. WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION START ON THE PROJECT? The Master Developer for The Village of Hempstead’s revitalization is planning to break ground on Phase 1 (located at the corner of Washington and Front Streets) in the first half of 2016. In addition, Renaissance Downtowns Urban America (RDUA) has already filed four additional site plans for development on Main Street across from the bus depot and railroad stations. RDUA will also file site plan applications for all remaining municipal parcels in 2016.

Q. II. WILL ANY RESIDENTS OR BUSINESSES OF THE VILLAGE BE DISPLACED BY THE PROJECT?Absolutely not.

Q. III. WILL THE DEVELOPMENT RAISE VILLAGE AND SCHOOL TAXES?Absolutely not. In fact, as development occurs on the sites being transferred to the Master Developer, there will be a positive tax benefit for the Village and school district, since today more than 30 percent of all downtown properties have been completely off the tax rolls.

Q. IV. HOW ARE THE VILLAGE’S SEWERS PROBLEMS BEING ADDRESSED?Phase 1 is directly responsible for having secured commitments in excess of $25 million dollars for sewer repairs and upgrades that otherwise would have never happened.

Q. V. WHAT BENEFITS ARE THERE FOR LOCAL JOB SEEKERS AND CONTRACTORS?To enable the goals for local job and contractor representation to be met, a Community Benefits Agreement has been signed with the Master Developer that contains hiring goals of 25% for construction jobs, permanent jobs and contractor opportunities during construction.

Q. VI. WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT? Full build-out of the overall development represents an excess of 2.5 BILLION dollars of economic activity in the Village, along with thousands of construction jobs and full time careers.

Q. VII. HOW MANY CONSTRUCTION AND PERMANENT JOBS AND CAREERS WILL BE CREATED BY THIS DEVELOPMENT? It is estimated that approximately 10,000 construction job years and 6000 permanent jobs will be created by this development.

Q. VIII. WHAT HAPPENS IF NO DEVELOPMENT OCCURS? If no development were to occur (1.) Homeowners would continue to pay exorbitantly high taxes (2.) the Village would likely not be able to reduce its alarmingly high unemployment (3.) the Village would miss a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a multi-billion dollar revitalization of its downtown along with a return to its glory days and (4.) the young talent in the Village will continue to leave.

Q. IX. HAVE ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY COME UP WITH ANY ALTERNATIVES? Absolutely not.

Q. X. AS A RESIDENT OR BUSINESS OWNER IN THE VILLAGE, HOW CAN I BECOME INVOLVED? The answer is simple. Come to the next Hempstead Six Meet Up! See schedule of events in this newsletter.

LEARN THE FACTS

Learn More at: renewhempstead.comContact Latoya / John at 516.307.8310 or 140 Main Street, Hempstead, NY 11550

QA&

Renew Hempstead c/o Hempstead Chamber of CommerceP.O. BOX 4264Hempstead NY 11550

MONTHLY MEET-UPS

GRANT SUPPORTED EVENTS

FEBRUARY 6 FEBRUARY 20Jazz & Soul Experience

7:00 pm @ theAfrican American Museum

Entrepreneurial Round Table9:00 am (3rd Saturday of every month)

@ Punto Uno Pizzeria

Monthly $500 and $250 grantsrenewhempstead.com/events renewhempstead.com/grants renewhempstead.com/grantideas

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FEBRUARY 27 EVERY SATURDAYHempstead Talent Showcase

9:00 am @ theHempstead High School

100% Youth ProgramNoon @ 100 Terrace Ave

Community Room

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Future Meetings will be held the First Wednesday of Every MonthSee Renew Hempstead.com/Events for Updated Information

MARCH 2 APRIL 6Pollos Mario • 6:30 - 8:30 pm75 N. Franklin St. • Hempstead

To Be AnnouncedWhen?

Where?