The opportunities are unlimited, said Rose, whose electrical contracting firm has been forced to turn down work this year. It's whatever you're capable of handling. The boom in airport construction stands out as a critical ingredient to the economy of Queens that will redefine the borough into the 21st Century, according to planners and economists. But the vibrancy of Queens' economy cannot be credited to any single industry. The city's diversity is the spark plug that brings energy and productivity to the city, Borough President Claire Shulman said.
Many experts also see potential for growth in minority-owned businesses.
But that doesn't mean there aren't warning signs of trouble ahead. Businesses complain that taxes and other costs associated with doing business in New York City are still too high. Companies must run a gauntlet of city bureaucracies to qualify for benefits or modify their buildings, according to businesspeople such as David Schick, chairman of Schick Technologies, a Long Island City-based manufacturer of dental and medical imaging equipment. Last year, for example, Schick said that even with city officials' support for construction of a pedestrian bridge to connect his company's offices in two buildings, the approval process took almost a year and required Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's signature. The system is a study in absurdity, he said at the time.