Long Island Business News

A proposal to develop a new 172-unit apartment building in Mineola has received preliminary approval for financial assistance from the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency. The $109.8 million project from Eden Blue LLC, an affiliate of developer Blue Communities, would create a six-story, 373,331-square-foot building with five floors of apartments over ground floor and below-ground parking on 1.47 acres at 110-136 Willis Ave.

Classes are underway this week at Hofstra University after a potential faculty strike threatened to disrupt the start of the semester, which began Monday. Both the Hofstra University administration and the Hofstra AAUP say significant progress in contract negotiations was made over the weekend, reaching agreement late Sunday night on several major terms.

Belmont Park, which is reopening Sept. 18 after a $455 million, three-year rebuild, has named Marc Forgione as “signature chef” in a partnership with the New York Racing Association (NYRA); Levy, a sports and entertainment company; and Elevate, a global sports and entertainment agency. A Food Network “Iron Chef” and restaurateur, Forgione will develop and execute menus across the venue’s hospitality areas. His restaurants include Tribeca-based namesake Forgione, and Nolita-based Peasant.

Island Greens, an indoor golf simulator concept, will be opening a location at Station Yards in Ronkonkoma. The company leased 5,202 square feet of retail space at the growing mixed-use development, where it will open its second Long Island location. Island Greens has an existing facility at 740 Franklin Ave. in Franklin Square.

Bang Bang Burritos, a growing chain of fast-casual Mexican-style eateries, will be opening three more locations on Long Island. The company is planning to open new restaurants in Wantagh, Oceanside and Melville, adding to its existing locations in Bay Shore, Manhasset and West Islip, which was the first of the chain to open in 2019. The chain leased a 1,500-square-foot end-cap space at 2904 Long Beach Road in Oceanside, which was formerly occupied by Smoothie Roo Cafe.

Stop & Shop is hosting a one-day career fair across 18 locations in Suffolk County on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Associates will be conducting on-the-spot interviews for part-time positions that could lead to advancement in management. Now the company is hiring in departments that include bakery, deli, grocery, seafood and produce. Additional openings include front-end courtesy clerks, overnight crews, cashiers, porters and baggers.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) has launched a national research study to examine the impact of caring for a spouse or partner with dementia. The study aims to gather evidence-based data directly from spouses about how dementia caregiving affects them physically, emotionally and socially over time. Findings are expected to help guide programs, resources and policies to better support the millions of Americans caring for loved ones with dementia.

A federal judge has blocked a plan by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would have defunded tens of millions of dollars from more than 100 community-based nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations, including one on Long Island. Judge Myong J.

As legal cannabis becomes a more established part of life on Long Island, dispensaries and organizations focused on public health and substance-use prevention are beginning to find themselves in the same conversations. Some of the old divisions are giving way to common concerns around responsible use, youth access, impaired driving and education. Groups that once approached cannabis mainly through prevention are now sitting down with businesses operating within a legal market.

A growing Long Island pharmaceutical manufacturer has acquired a vacant Hauppauge property where it plans to build a new facility. Bactolac Pharmaceutical purchased 3.4 acres of land on Motor Parkway just east of the Radisson Hotel for $4.5 million. Bactolac, which has other Hauppauge facilities at 7 Oser Ave. and 85 Davids Drive, is currently working on the approvals process for the development, the size of which has yet to be determined, according to a broker on the deal.