Diversity Is King For Queens Economic Director

As executive director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation, Seth Bornstein spends his professional time energetically promoting the entire borough as a place to do business. He travels from Astoria to Far Rockaway and all points in between, helping entrepreneurs launch companies, organizing forums on commerce and making sure shopping centers are full of customers.

But before and after he plies his trade, Bornstein is an extremely happy resident of Burns Street, where he's lived since 1997.

"I love the diversity," he said, while munching on shrimp tacos at on Austin Street. "Globalization began here."

Bornstein likes to start his weekday at about 6 a.m. at the on Austin Street, where he often socializes with an Israeli friend. Then he buys breakfast at Michael's Bagels on Ascan Avenue, where the owners are Russian and the employees are Mexican. If he's in the mood for something else, he hits , where a Ugandan woman of Indian heritage works, or , whose owners hail from Korea. Then, he can walk to his office in Kew Gardens.

"Before the day begins, I've experienced five or six cultures," Bornstein said, adding that neighbors on his block include African-Americans, Latinos and people of Chinese, Irish, Japanese and Jewish heritage.

Bornstein said that diversity is part of what makes the borough's economy tick. He also likes weather diversity and thinks that Forest Hills is a neighborhood for all seasons.

"On a spring day, when the flowers are in bloom, it smells  beautiful," he said. "On a summer's day, when I walk under [tressle into Forest Hills Gardens] it feels five degrees cooler. During the fall, it's the changing of the leaves. You don't need to go to New England."

Well, almost all seasons. Winter is a different story no matter where Bornstein hangs his hat. "It's cold, just like in any other place," he lamented, mentioning an upcoming Florida vacation.

Among other endeavours, the Queens Economic Development Corporation offers pro-business workshops, training programs, mentoring and networking opportunities. Jan. 19 was the official open house for Entrepreneur's Space, a 5,500-square foot commercial kitchen at 36-46 37th St. near Northern Boulevard in Long Island City.

At the space, business start-ups can rent a kitchen — which is open round-the-clock and stocked with everything from mixing bowls to walk-in ovens. Bornstein says he has 95 clients, renting as often as once a month to three times a week.

"The idea is that you get so good that you want your own kitchen," he explained.

The kitchen is just one of a number of projects across the borough — like Queens Restaurant Week — intended to show off not just the diversity of the area, but the economic strength that comes from that diversity.

In the end, however, Bornstein said he's happy that Forest Hills is the place where he gets to hang his hat.

"I'm just a neighborhood guy," he said.