Editor’s Note: The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our print edition dated March 19-April 1, 2026.

Bronx Day in Albany returned to the Capital Region for the first time in nearly a decade, bringing together business leaders, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, cultural institutions and policymakers to highlight the borough’s economic impact and opportunities for growth across New York State.

 

Hosted by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the New York State Senate and Assembly Bronx delegations, the full-day event featured policy discussions, business workshops and a cultural showcase highlighting the borough’s businesses, cuisine and creative community. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli attended the event, which Bronx officials said underscored growing attention on the Bronx’s economic role and potential.

The day began with the Leadership Luncheon, which featured two panels focused on key economic issues affecting both the borough and the state: “Building the Bronx: Real Estate & Housing Solutions in a High-Cost Environment,” and “Doing Business in New York: Costs, Constraints, and Competitiveness.”

 

Discussions explored the capital conditions needed to unlock development while preserving existing housing, as well as how rising costs and regulatory pressures affect employers, small businesses and long-term economic competitiveness.

Participants included Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (S.D. 34), Sen. Jamaal Bailey (S.D. 36), Assemblymembers Chantel Jackson (A.D. 79) and Landon Dais (A.D. 77), along with housing and development leaders and representatives from statewide business organizations.

 

Bronx Day in Albany also featured state agency workshops and AI for business training, connecting attendees with resources including grants, procurement opportunities, certification programs, compliance training and clean energy initiatives.

The event concluded with the Business & Cultural Showcase, where attendees explored exhibits from nearly 50 Bronx businesses and organizations spanning tourism, healthcare, entertainment, nonprofit services and cultural institutions. The showcase featured tastings from Bronx restaurants, bakeries and breweries, artisan vendors offering art, clothing and accessories, and live music by Bronx’s own DJ MadOut.

 

The evening also featured the inaugural Change Maker Awards, recognizing community leaders nominated by Bronx elected officials for their impact across the borough. There was also a tour of the Capitol building and an opportunity to sit in on a vote in the Capitol Chambers.

The honorees were Bravo Supermarket, nominated by Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia (A.D. 86), Bridge Builders Community Partnership Inc., nominated by Sen. Luis R. Sepúlveda (S.D. 32), the Bronx Children’s Museum, nominated by Sen. Jose M. Serrano (S.D. 29) Cestra’s Bakery, nominated by Assembly Member Michael Benedetto (A.D. 82), Conti’s Pastry Shoppe, nominated by Assembly Member John Zaccaro Jr. (A.D. 80), DJ MadOut, nominated by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (A.D. 83), and Fix It With Piggy, nominated by Assembly Member Landon Dais (A.D. 77).

 

Additionally, Johnson’s BBQ, nominated by Assembly Member Chantel Jackson (A.D. 79), was also an honoree, as were Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corp (KRVC), nominated by Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81), Kingsbridge Social Club, nominated by Sen. Robert Jackson (S.D. 31), Maravillas Bar & Grill, nominated by Assembly Member Emerita Torres (A.D. 85), Taqueria Tlaxcalli, nominated by Assembly Member Karines Reyes (A.D. 87), The Bronx Beer Hall, nominated by Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), The Hoodspitality Group, nominated by Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (A.D. 84), Travel with Chaz, nominated by Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (S.D. 34), United Bodegas of America, nominated by Assembly Member George Alvarez (A.D. 78), and Williamsbridge NAACP CEC, nominated by Sen. Jamaal Bailey (S.D. 36).

Norwood News spoke to one of the exhibitors, Huguette Prophete who was promoting her business, Sweet Hugs LLC. “We’ll be providing tastings later,” she said, adding, “I’m actually having an amazing time. I have a cookie brand. So, it’s cookies with less sugar…like culinary hugs.”

 

Other exhibitors included the Bronx Children’s Museum, Our Bronx, Chase Bank, The International Hip Hop Museum, Bronx Beer Hall, among many others.

Later, Norwood News spoke with Lisa Sorin, executive director of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and asked her how it was being back after around a decade.

 

“About 10 years, we’re back in a big way,” she said. “The message for us is we’re growing, we’re sustainable. Now, we’re the borough where all eyes are on us, and so our message is, look, we want you to invest, continue to invest in our borough, but we want to keep it local. We want the businesses, we want the residents, we want the students. When everybody was doing well in the other boroughs, we weren’t part of the success story. Now we are. Now, we are the success story. Now, and this is representative of it, right, because ten years ago, Bronx Day in Albany was Cannoli competitions, and just showcasing papers and giveaways and seniors. Respectfully, we love them but what it should be, and what it is today, is about business.”

Sorin continued, “It’s about economic development. It’s about workforce, and that’s the message. Our elected officials, we’ve been blessed over the past couple of years that they have noticed our commitment to our businesses, and so they’ve partnered and so this is where the success is, right, in the partnerships. We can’t do it isolated. So, we’re so proud of what’s happening here, and the investment, and the knowledge, and the fact that we had two event planners that knocked it out of the park [Fernandez, and Chantel Jackson.]”

 

Asked if it took a while for everything to come together, Sorin said, “We’ve been planning this since almost last summer. It came together about a month ago!” she said smiling.

Asked if there had been a lot of interest by participants to attend, she said, “Oh my goodness! They were super excited, but they also wanted to know, ‘What’s in it for me?’ Because at the end of the day, it’s a trek. You’re coming here – three hours. Is there value? So for us, this is the value: having an elected official at every table, giving the opportunity to network with other corporations and our sponsors, giving them the opportunity to visit the Capitol. Even my staff have never been here, and these are partners, and these are the people that we need to show them we’re here, we’re showing face, and we want to shake hands. We’re here for it.”

 

Bronx Day in Albany, March 10, 2026 V1 Video by Síle Moloney

On the topic of major housing developments in The Bronx, Norwood News took the opportunity to ask Sorin for her thoughts on Dynamic Star LLC’s bankruptcy filing application in relation to the planned Fordham Landing South affordable housing development along the Harlem River by University Heights bridge and Fordham Road in University Heights, as reported in December 2025. We asked if she was hopeful the development could be salvaged.

 

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“Oh absolutely!” she said. “We saw that happening in Mott Haven. There was all this development. People owned this huge plot of land. People thought that it fell by the wayside and nothing was going to happen. Brookfield stepped in, and all these other developers, and now it is a brand new skyline.”

 

She continued, “I think it’s a matter of slowly, small steps, showing that there can be success. There always has to be one person who kicks it off, and I think that’s where we are. And so, of course, financially, everything going on in politics impacts. It is what it is and we know that that has a lot to do with it, but we’ll stabilize, and I absolutely believe that that will be probably one of the biggest projects and one of the most successful.”

 

Bronx Day in Albany, March 10, 2026 V3 Video by Síle Moloney

Asked if the event was better or worse than in previous years, Sandra Erickson, board member of Bronx Community Board 7, and Bronx Chamber of Commerce vice president, said, “Well, so far, this is my first Bronx Day in Albany. So, as Bronx Chamber vice president, I couldn’t be more proud of the luncheon, the panels, owners, and owner managers and tenants working together, small businesses and legislators. I just think it’s all positive stuff, and I look forward to the panels and to the exhibits afterwards.”

 

Summarizing the morning’s housing panel session, Erickson said, “There were owner managers talking about the challenges for housing, especially in The Bronx, where we’re facing a lot of challenges, where we can’t renovate up to 50,000 vacant apartments, and the expenses, insurance especially energy costs, property taxes. It’s it’s really hurting, and again, Bronx is ground zero for these the deterioration and the challenges for apartment buildings, multifamily and rent-stabilized apartment buildings.”

 

Bronx Day in Albany, March 10, 2026 V4 Video by Síle Moloney

Summing up the morning, Erickson said, “I’m just so happy and proud to see everyone here working together. I haven’t heard one debate. Everyone is on the same page. It’s improving things for life in The Bronx.”

 

Later we spoke with Alvarez, who represents some or all of the Bronx neighborhoods of Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham Manor, University Heights, Bedford Park and Belmont, and he mentioned that for many of the current Bronx elected officials who won their seats in recent years, it was their first Bronx Day in Albany.

 

 

Bronx Day in Albany, March 10, 2026 V5 Video by Síle Moloney

“It’s really good,” the assemblyman said adding jokingly [or maybe not], “Between you and I, and everybody who’s gonna listen [read] it, we’re trying to beat Brooklyn!” He explained that at least some of the other boroughs like Queens and Brooklyn already have their own days in Albany to showcase the best of their boroughs.

 

“Brooklyn has one every single year, and they do really good,” he said. “Actually, Brooklyn was our inspiration to one more time have Bronx Day in Albany, and so far, it’s been so good. So, we’ve been having workshops, panels about economic development, social justice.” Asked about the morning panel discussions, he said there was one on artificial intelligence and how it applies to small businesses. “I think that’s really, really great because it helps small businesses how to be more efficient in what they do,” he said.

 

Bronx Day in Albany, March 10, 2026 V7 Video by Síle Moloney

Alvarez continued, “The other one is about housing. I think that housing is one of the most important issues that we’re facing in the State of New York, and we’ve been doing so good in terms of giving money every single year. So, the housing access voucher program right now from $50 million, we increased to $150 million, which is good for our people. We also passed…we didn’t pass, but it’s going to pass in the next few days…. we also increased the first-time homeowners incentive for like $500 million, so you can apply to those incentives as a first-time homeowner, just to help you.”

 

Bronx Day in Albany, March 10, 2026 V8 Video by Síle Moloney

The assemblyman concluded, “It’s been a great day. You see over 200 businesses here from The Bronx and that’s what we’re trying to make possible here, that people know where to go when they need something in The Bronx.”

 

For his part, the assembly speaker later said of the success of the day, “It’s just a great thing to come and celebrate The Bronx, the businesses, the people, the culture, the history. You know The Bronx is a great place, and just reminding the people of Albany how great The Bronx is. So, it’s really just a celebration of The Bronx today.”

 

Bronx Day in Albany, March 10, 2026 V9 Video by Síle Moloney

Norwood News also spoke with Bronx Democratic Party chair and State Sen. Jamaal Bailey (S.D. 36) and asked if there was any upcoming legislation in the works that aims to support small businesses. “We just want to make sure we create a climate that’s friendly for small businesses,” Bailey said. “We have a great Chamber of Commerce, led by Lisa Sorin and incredible folks there. We want to make sure that small businesses, micro businesses, thrive because the majority of the businesses in The Bronx are small businesses. When we’ve had economic hardships, they were not only the ones that stayed around; they helped with the community, helped to cultivate it.”

 

Bronx Day in Albany, March 10, 2026 V10 Video by Síle Moloney

The senator continued, “With COVID, when everybody was running away, small businesses were the ones to step up and step out for community. So, whatever we can do to try to figure that out, to help people stay in The Bronx. Most importantly we want you to come to The Bronx, but we want you to stay as well.

 

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Asked what was the instigator for bringing back the event after a decade – why now essentially. “I think it was why not?” he said. “There’s never a day where we shouldn’t celebrate the pride that we have in the borough, and we just wanted to bring it up and do it again.”

 

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Finally, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson announced that despite a planned pause this year for cost reasons, Bronx Week 2026 is finally going ahead.

 

The following day, March 11, several hundreds of people rallied outside the State Capitol building to call for greater budget allocations for various causes in the State budget amid prevailing budget negotiations, including some who were campaigning for increased funding for mental health services.

Young people rally outside the State Capitol building in Albany to increase the allocation in the State budget for mental health services (youth mental health services) from above 2 percent to 4 percent, amid prevailing budget negotiations on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Video by Síle Moloney

In New York City, free and confidential mental health support is available 24/7. Call or text 988 to connect with trained counselors for crisis intervention, substance use support, and referrals to long-term care.