QUEENS, NY – Borough President Melinda Katz and the Queens Borough Board will hold a public hearing on the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2017 Preliminary Expense and Capital Budgets on Monday, January 25, 2016 at 10:30am at Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens.

The purpose of the public hearing will be to obtain the views and recommendations of the Queens Community Boards, residents and stakeholders on the proposals contained in the Mayor’s FY 2017 Preliminary Budget. This input will be used to develop the Borough Board’s budget priorities for FY 2017.

Members of the public are encouraged to testify. Representatives from local organizations will present requests for City funding during the hearing. Anyone wishing to deliver verbal testimony during the hearing are advised to pre-register online at www.queensbp.org/budget to secure a speaking time slot  (limited to three minutes for each speaker). For anyone unable to attend the hearing, written testimony will be accepted via email at [email protected]  until January 25, 2016 at 5:00 PM EST.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES FOR DISCRETIONARY FUNDING APPLICATIONS:

The Office of the Queens Borough President provides capital funding that can be used to fund large-scale projects, including but not limited to infrastructure improvements and affordable housing developments, and to purchase smaller-scale fixed assets, like computers, Smart-Boards for schools and meal delivery vehicles.

For non-profit organizations: apply via NYC CapGrants web portal at www.nyc.gov/html/capgrants/capgrants.html. No exceptions to the deadline will be made as this portal will shut down promptly at 5:00 PM EST on February 12, 2016.

For non-profit cultural organizations: apply via NYC Department of Cultural Affairs web portal at www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/funding/capital.shtml. No exceptions to the deadline will be made as this portal will shut down promptly at 5:00 PM EST on February 12, 2016.

For public schools: apply online at www.queensbp.org/budget.

The Office of the Queens Borough President provides expense funding to support a wide range of programs provided by community based organizations throughout Queens, including but not limited to senior programs, youth programs, social service and community events. Apply online at www.queensbp.org/budget.