As one of the world’s most creative and innovative cities, New York is certainly not alien to the concept of collaborative and shared working spaces. According to a recent real estate survey, Manhattan alone is home to more than 5 million square feet of shared office space, and the figures are also high (and continue to increase) in boroughs like Brooklyn, which has approximately 1 million square feet of such space.

Over the past five years, New York City has witnessed the significant growth of co-working spaces that cater to very specific niches, from female-only spaces to those exclusively created to attract graphic designers or writers. New spaces are constantly appearing across the city, offering a range of fabulous benefits in an effort to target specific niche communities and to bring real value and opportunities for growth to the professionals using these spaces.

In this article we take a look at some of the most interesting, cool, and quirky perks offered by some of the top co-working spaces in New York.

Spacious defines itself as a co-working-hospitality hybrid model that provides workspaces in select New York restaurants when they are closed to diners. Perks include high-speed WiFi, private dining rooms used to conduct private calls or meetings complimentary tea and coffee, and food and drink discounts at each restaurant.

For over 30 years, federal and private investment programs have focused on expanding the Bronx’s economic base and making this New York borough attractive to businesses large and small. For the most part, these programs have been successful, since according to the Center for Urban Culture, the Bronx comes out first in the list of New York boroughs in terms of business growth levels. It is estimated that this borough is currently home to more than 16,000 registered companies, and nearly 5,000 of those are small businesses.

Business growth in the borough continues to be promoted through a number of financial incentives and support programs, which are described below.

Financing and Incentives for businesses in the Bronx

The most popular loan programs available to those interested in setting up a business in the Bronx include:

Springboard mini loans, administered by the Springboard Mini Loan Fund in collaboration with the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, available to local start-ups owned by women or those who belong to minority groups. Grants and loans are also available from Local Development Corporations, and are available to business owners who can commit to either creating jobs or attracting inward investment to the borough. For further information, please visit www.ci.nyc.ny.us/nyez.

Business in the Bronx

One of New York City’s five boroughs, The Bronx is one of the most densely populated counties in the United States. The borough is also home to the New York Botanical Garden, Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, and other famous parks and attractions. With a population of more than 1.4 million people, the Bronx is a mix of European, African American and Caribbean cultures and the birthplace of hip hop. Since the late 1980s, the area has seen significant revitalization and development focusing on new housing. In more recent years, formerly vacant lots in South Bronx are being redeveloped for residential and commercial use.

The Bronx’s Economy

The Bronx is primarily a residential borough, and its economy is focused on local markets. The borough’s economy is service oriented with a majority of private sector sobs within the service sector. Health care, trade, education, and social services account for nearly half of all private sector jobs in the Bronx. In terms of population and employment, the borough is growing. After seeing significant decline up until the 1980s, the Bronx added 53,600 jobs between 1983 and 2012 – an increase of 33 per cent. Since 1980, the Bronx’s population has increased by 20 per cent.

The number of businesses also rose by 26 per cent between 1990 and 2011, with the largest growth in the South Bronx. Most businesses in the area are small, with about two-thirds employment less than five employees. Approximately 80 per cent of businesses in the Bronx employ less than ten employees. Most businesses are in the retail sector, followed by real estate.

Updated 7th October, 2014 from Archive 2010

The City of New York is home to a number of CBD’s or Central Business Districts, each providing unique business opportunities and incentives.

Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan is located in the central portion of the city of Manhattan. It is home to some of the most important business centers in the world, including the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. The majority of NYC’s skyscrapers and business buildings are located in Midtown Manhattan. Other popular areas in Midtown Manhattan include Times Square, Fifth Avenue and Broadway. The United Nations Headquarters and Rockefeller Center are also located in Midtown Manhattan.

Lower Manhattan

Lower Manhattan is home to the “Financial District” of NYC. Lower Manhattan is also known as the “financial capital” of the world. Anyone who is an investment banker in NYC likely works in Lower Manhattan. The Twin Trade Towers are located in Lower Manhattan, and the 9/11 memorial is now located there. Wall Street is another popular street located in Lower Manhattan. It is common to see busy investment bankers walking around the New York Stock Exchange during the day.

Surrounding Lower Manhattan, one can find areas like Greenwich Village, Little Italy, Chinatown, TriBeCa, West Village, the Meatpacking District and East Village. Beautiful, gated residential communities can also be found near the Financial District. These developments include Gramercy Park and Peter Cooper Village.

Brooklyn is the most highly populated of all of New York City’s boroughs along with being the second largest. In recent years the face of Brooklyn has changed from that of a hard-working blue collar employee, to a white collar professional. Thanks to some of the business initiatives started by New York City, the entire area has become a haven for technology start-ups. But Brooklyn is a borough that has added little something extra to its economic success and that has helped it to grow faster than many of the other boroughs.

See our article on New York Central Business Districts (CBD’s)

Due to economic growth throughout NYC in many industry sectors, a number of new CBD’s or Central Business Districts have emerged.

Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan has been transformed by extensive investment and development into a thriving 24/7 neighborhood and is a prime location for businesses looking for inexpensive commercial space.

Harlem
Harlem’s diverse cultural heritage is creating excellent opportunities for cultural and economic growth.

Long Island City
Long Island City’s close proximity to midtown and a wide array of affordable and spacious leasing options makes it an ideal location for business.