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CUF in the News
Center for an Urban Future
is a New York City-based think tank that fuses journalistic reporting techniques with traditional policy analysis to produce in-depth reports and workable policy solutions on the critical issues facing our cities.
is a New York City-based think tank that fuses journalistic reporting techniques with traditional policy analysis to produce in-depth reports and workable policy solutions on the critical issues facing our cities.
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New York by the Numbers
Economic snapshots of the 5 boroughs
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Entrepreneurship
COMMENTARY
Immigrant Entrepreneurism: An Engine for Economic Recoveryby Jonathan Bowles
In this essay for the new book What's Next for New York City's Economy, published by the Drum Major Institute, CUF's Jonathan Bowles argues that New York's economic development officials should look to immigrant entrepreneurs to provide a key spark to the city's economic recovery.
TESTIMONY
Testimony: Translating New York's Science and Technology Assets Into Economic ActivityBy Jonathan Bowles
At an October 9th hearing held by the Governors Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships, CUFs Jonathan Bowles testified about how to make New Yorks pre-eminent scientific research institutions engines of entrepreneurship and economic growth.
REPORT
Building New York City's Innovation Economyby Jim O'Grady and Jonathan Bowles
This report finds that New York City's leading universities and scientific research centers have not become catalysts for entrepreneurship and local economic development the way similar institutions have in other regions. It argues that this is a huge missed opportunity for New York, given the need to diversify the economy and create new engines of job growth. The study details why New York is falling short, showing that university leaders have not done enough to support start-up ventures.
The report is accompanied by the city's first-ever "Innovation Index," a package of 49 charts and graphs that show where New York stands compared to other cities and regions on a broad range of indicators measuring both existing science and technology assets and the city's level of success at commercializing these assets.
September 2009
REPORT
Reviving the Middle Class Dream in NYCBy Jonathan Bowles, Joel Kotkin and David Giles
This major report by the Center for an Urban Future, titled "Reviving the City of Aspiration," concludes that New Yorks longstanding legacy as a place that both sustained a large middle class and elevated countless people from poorer backgrounds into the middle class is now in serious jeopardy.
COMMENTARY
Paying Attention to CitiesBy Jonathan Bowles
After years of federal policies neglecting urban areas, Barack Obama has sent some encouraging signals that he understands their importance. Certainly, New York could use a helping hand. In this commentary for Gotham Gazette, CUF director Jonathan Bowles lays out some ideas for what the president could do to aid New York. Bowles and CUF deputy director Tara Colton also appeared on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show to discuss these ideas.
January 2009
REPORT
51 Things the Obama Administration Should do for New York CityBy Jonathan Bowles, Tara Colton, David Jason Fischer, David Giles and Jim O'Grady
The advent of the Obama administration offers great hope that the period of years, if not decades, when the federal government all but turned its back on the needs of urban communities is finally over. But what exactly should the new president do for New York City? Our new report, 50+1: A Federal Agenda for New York City, lays out 51 specific recommendations for what the Obama administration and the 111th Congress could do to help New York City. The ideas range from taking immediate steps to ensure that the 2010 Census does not undercount New York and providing anti-terror funds to localities based on risk to accelerating the rollout of new air traffic control technology to reduce flight delays.
Q&A
Q&A with Eldon Scott, founder of the Union Square Holiday MarketBy Jonathan Bowles
As part of our series of Q&As with New York City innovators, entrepreneurs and policy experts, the Centers Jonathan Bowles interviews Eldon Scott, who is arguably the person most responsible for creating the city's holiday markets.
December 2008
TRANSCRIPT
Transcript of A World of Opportunity: Should New York and Other Cities Look to Immigrant Entrepreneurs as a New Engine for Economic Growth?The full transcript from the conference the Center co-sponsored with the Field Center for Entrepreneurship at Baruch College, which examined the impact immigrant entrepreneurs are having, the specific obstacles they face in starting and growing businesses and what policies local and national officials ought to undertake to support this under-appreciated part of the economy.
COMMENTARY
Trouble BrewingBy Steve Hindy
This Off the CUF commentary by the co-founder of the Brooklyn Brewery details his firms unsuccessful four-year saga to find new space in the five boroughs and calls on policymakers to provide more support for small manufacturers in the face of gentrification, rezoning of industrial areas and rising real estate prices.
COMMENTARY
Recipe For GrowthBy Mark Foggin
This Off the CUF commentary urges city economic development officials to support the creation of additional kitchen incubators, which give food entrepreneurs something that's often impossible to find in New York: a licensed commercial kitchen at affordable rates.
TESTIMONY
Creating Greater Opportunities for Immigrant EntrepreneursBy Jonathan Bowles
In this testimony before a City Council hearing prompted by the Center's "A World of Opportunity" report, CUF director Jonathan Bowles argues that policymakers and economic development officials must do more to support immigrant entrepreneurs, which are a growing but often neglected part of the city's economy.
COMMENTARY
Recapturing Suburban ShoppersBy Jonathan Bowles
This policy brief shows that ethnic retail strips from Jackson Heights to Richmond Hill are attracting hordes of suburban shoppersand having a big impact on the citys economy.
COMMENTARY
Immigrant Entrepreneurs on Staten IslandBy Jonathan Bowles
In this op-ed in Staten Island Business Trends, CUF director Jonathan Bowles argues that Staten Islands growing immigrant population could be a catalyst for the boroughs economy in the years ahead.
TESTIMONY
The New Congress and Small BusinessesBy Jonathan Bowles
In this commentary in Gotham Gazette, CUF director Jonathan Bowles writes that the elevation of NYC Representative Nydia Velazquez to the head of the House's Small Business Committee has the potential to change Washington's dialogue about small business and benefit small firms in the five boroughs.
November 2006
Q & A
Q&A with Coney Island entrepreneur Dianna CarlinBy Jonathan Bowles
In the Center's latest Q&A with business leaders and policy experts from around the five boroughs, CUF director Jonathan Bowles interviews Dianna Carlin, founder of Lola Staar, an eclectic boutique with locations on Coney Island's boardwalk and in the base of the Cyclone roller coaster. Read what Carlin has to say about the changes proposed for Coney Island and some of the surprising obstacles she's faced as an entrepreneur in the neighborhood.
August 2006
TESTIMONY
Immigrant Entrepreneurs' Role in the Growth of Staten Island's EconomyBy Jonathan Bowles
CUF director Jonathan Bowles argues that immigrant entrepreneurs could be a significant catalyst for economic growth on Staten Island in this speech, which he delivered on April 25 at the Staten Island Conference, sponsored by SIEDC.
Q & A
Q&A with Irwin Cohen: Learning From Chelsea Market's SuccessBy Jonathan Bowles
In the Center's latest Q&A with NYC's leading economic development experts, CUF director Jonathan Bowles speaks with Chelsea Market developer Irwin Cohen about the role of food markets in economic development, the planned High Line development and the future of the Bronx Terminal Market.
October 2005
Q & A
Q&A with Arturo Ignacio Sánchez: How Important Are Immigrant Entrepreneurs to New York City's Economy?By Jonathan Bowles
In the latest in our series of conversations with leading NYC economic development experts, CUF research director Jonathan Bowles interviews Arturo Ignacio Sánchez, an urban planner based at LaGuardia Community College and a longtime member of Queens Community Board 3, about the impact that immigrant entrepreneurs are having on New York's economy.
August 2005
TRANSCRIPT
Planning for Economic Growth: The Bush Administration and the Future of Small Business Development in New YorkThe full transcript from the Center's February 15, 2005 forum on the impact of recent cutbacks to federal small business and community development programs in New York. Panelists included Council Member Eric Gioia, Fred Hochberg, Michael Pappas, Madeline Marquez and Fred Teng.
March 2005
TRANSCRIPT
Restarting NYCs Economic Engine: Tapping the Economic Potential of the Citys Immigrant EntrepreneursOn March 11, 2004, CUF research director Jonathan Bowles moderated this panel discussion at New School University on the potential of immigrant entrepreneurs for New York City's economy.
March 2004
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