Bronx business owners often have problems covering rent, keeping workers, and trying to make it through the regulations needed to keep their businesses intact.
Those looking to ask lawmakers for guidance about what to do to keep their neighborhood businesses alive are invited to attend the Bronx Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Legislative Summit “Bronx Forward: Setting the 2027 Agenda for Bronx Business.”
Officials from Washington, Albany, and City Hall will be at the gathering scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Maestro’s Caterers, 1703 Bronxdale Ave. in the Bronx. The event is designed to connect business owners with policymakers whose decisions affect their operating costs.
“Our elected officials understand that the success of any corridor and residential area is really dependent on the commercial corridor that supports them, right?” Bronx Chamber President Lisa Sorin said in an interview.
“Before we had major malls and the whole nine yards, people who live in areas wanted to do their shopping locally: they wanted to go to the corner bodega, or, you know, their corner stationery store, which still exists, believe it or not. So it boils down to strong commercial corridors, meaning strong residential impact and quality of life. As businesses close, what you’re seeing is that not only are you impacting the families that own these businesses, but you’re also impacting the community in which they serve. Residents depend on that.”
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative event began as a small, complimentary breakfast restricted to Corporate and Chairman’s Circle members. Sorin said they had a smaller summit last year; this year’s four-hour program will include a congressional fireside chat and separate state Senate, Assembly, and City Council-oriented panels.
The event’s new “Washington Update” section features U.S. Reps. Ritchie Torres and George Latimer. Others scheduled to appear include senators Robert Jackson, Luis Sepúlveda, Nathalia Fernandez and Jamaal Bailey; assemblymembers Landon Dais, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Amanda Septimo, Yudelka Tapia, John Zaccaro Jr., Karines Reyes, George Alvarez and Emérita Torres; and councilmembers Justin Sanchez, Kevin Riley, Shirley Aldebol and Eric Dinowitz. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson is also scheduled to deliver remarks.
Representatives for Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are also scheduled to appear. The summit will feature discussions about economic development, workforce needs, small-business policy, public safety, transportation, and housing. There will be time set aside for breakfast and networking as well.
Sorin said questions submitted by registrants will be collected and asked of elected officials. She said there is already a list of concerns Bronx Chamber members want the lawmakers to talk about.
Economic uncertainty is one: businesses need clarity about city, state, and federal decisions before they can plan investments. Affordability is another: rent, insurance, labor, and compliance expenses accumulate. Hiring and retention form a third, including whether employers can afford benefits. Housing is the fourth, linking residents’ stability with the businesses serving them and the costs faced by housing providers.
Black and Latino entrepreneurs drive the Bronx economy. According to Census estimates, Blacks and Latinos own 65% to 75% of all registered businesses in the borough, mirroring the borough’s population which is more than 85% Black or Latino. Latino-owned businesses are 40% to 45% of total businesses, while Black-owned businesses account for 25% to 30%. Small operations — like sole proprietorships, street vendors, and independent contractors — make up more than 80% of local businesses. Sorin highlighted local establishments like corner bodegas and stationery stores as essential neighborhood commerce. She said their survival directly supports local families and workers.
A 2020 Center for an Urban Future analysis found that Latino-owned Bronx businesses with employees declined 23% between 2012 and 2017. And in 2023, the city comptroller’s office reported that Black-owned and Latino-owned vendors each received less than 2% of city contract dollars in fiscal 2022.
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Legislative Summit is open to anyone who wants to attend, but advance registration is required through the Chamber’s event page and registrants are being asked to submit questions for the lawmakers due to be in attendance.
Sorin said people unable to attend can still send questions to the Bronx Chamber because their advocacy will continue beyond the breakfast.
“Although they’re hearing directly from lawmakers, this is an opportunity for them to have face-to-face meetings, exchange numbers, concerns, and questions. The onus, I like to say, falls on the Bronx Chamber because our job is to assist in the economic growth of this borough, and the way we do that is really by providing support, and part of that is really looking closely at the policies that are being put forward, and you know, some of them are great, some of them are not, and so we make sure to keep our finger on the pulse.”
