The following message was sent to businesses by Kathryn Wylde, president of the New York City Partnership and Chamber of Commerce.
September 13, 2001
Downtown Brooklyn
Like all Americans, the New York City Partnership/Chamber of Commerce offers condolences and prayers to the families, relatives and friends of those who are missing and those who perished in the terrorist attack that destroyed the World Trade Center complex on Tuesday. Many of our own companies have experienced great losses, and we are doing everything possible to organize support for them and other affected businesses.
On Monday, September 17, the Partnership will hold a meeting for all Partners to discuss the appropriate response of the business community to this national tragedy. This meeting will replace the one that had been scheduled to discuss tax policy with Congressman Charles Rangel, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. It will take place at 8:30 A.M. in the West Ballroom of the Regency (Park Avenue at 61st Street). If you are able to attend, please send a reply to [email protected].
The Partnership opened a temporary office this morning in Keyspan's headquarters in downtown Brooklyn. In cooperation with Mayor Giuliani's business task force, the Partnership is assembling all of the elements required to launch a number of services for businesses displaced by the destruction of the World Trade Center complex and its environs. Those services include:
- Locating short-term office space for displaced businesses;
- Finding temporary employment for displaced employees who, for now, cannot rejoin their companies;
- Providing MIS support for businesses that are re-establishing their computer infrastructure;
- Assessing the needs of individual companies;
- Conducting structural analysis of buildings, a service that will be provided by Skidmore Owings & Merrill;
- Offering bridge financing to businesses, a service that the New York City Investment Fund will operate; and,
- Listing web sites and other sources of information and aid that employers and employees will need in the days and weeks ahead.