Manhattan Commons
The Chamber's online community for Manhattan businesses. Get your questions answered by Chamber staff, find grants and contracts, stay ahead of City Hall, and meet business owners in your neighborhood.
Free for any business with a Manhattan address.
Five rooms, each with a clear job
Every room has a purpose and a schedule, so you always know where to go and what you'll find there.
Ask the Chamber
Get answers to your business questions
Post a question about a violation, permit, lease, inspection, or city rule. Chamber staff answer within one business day, and every answer stays posted so you can search what other owners have asked.
Opportunities
Find grants, RFPs, and contracts
Every Wednesday, we round up funding and contracting opportunities open to Manhattan businesses, with the deadlines coming up in the next two weeks.
City Hall This Week
Stay ahead of new rules
Every Monday: the hearings, comment deadlines, and new rules that could affect your business, and what the Chamber is doing about each. Share your experience and help shape our testimony.
Members Connect
Connect with other business owners
Introduce yourself, ask for referrals, join your neighborhood's thread, and find discounts members offer each other.
Storefront Business Coalition
Join the fight for Manhattan's storefronts
Follow the coalition's work, weigh in on letters and testimony, and find out when your voice is needed at City Hall.
Your week on the Commons
New posts arrive on a regular rhythm. Turn on email or text alerts and you won't miss a thing.
- First TuesdayBorough BriefA short monthly read on Manhattan's economy, City Hall, and one thing to do this month, on the Commons main page.
- Every MondayCity Hall This WeekHearings, deadlines, and new rules for the week ahead.
- Every WednesdayOpportunitiesThis week's grants, RFPs, and contracts.
- Every FridayMeet the MembersA welcome for new members, and once a month, a question for everyone.
- Any weekdayAsk the ChamberPost a question. Get an answer within one business day.
How to get in
New to the Chamber
Joining takes about two minutes, and the free membership includes full access to Manhattan Commons.
- Apply for the free Manhattan Business Community membership, or choose a paid tier for added benefits.
- Once Chamber staff approve your membership, you'll receive your login details.
- Log in and click Manhattan Commons in the bar on the left-hand side.
Already a member
You already have access. Here's how to get started.
- Log in to your Chamber member account.
- Click Manhattan Commons in the bar on the left-hand side.
- Complete your profile and turn on email or text alerts.
- Introduce yourself in Meet the Members, then ask your first question in Ask the Chamber.
How the rooms work
Every room has two parts.
The feed
Where the Chamber posts updates, like the Monday City Hall roundup and the Wednesday list of opportunities. Comment on any post or react to it.
Discussions
Where members post. Ask a question, share a tip, or start a conversation. Each topic gets its own thread, so it's easy to find later.
Tips for a great post
- Use a clear title, like "Got a sidewalk café violation. What are my options?"
- Share your type of business, your neighborhood, and what's happened so far. You don't need to name your business.
- Search first. Your question may already have an answer.
- Skip the sales pitches. Tell us about your business in your introduction, and share member discounts in the Member Deals thread.
Common questions
Is Manhattan Commons really free?
Yes. Every Chamber member can use all five rooms, including members on the free Manhattan Business Community tier, which is open to any business with a Manhattan address.
Who can see what I post?
Only logged-in Chamber members. The Commons isn't public, and we'll always ask before sharing your business name or story outside it.
Are answers in Ask the Chamber legal advice?
No. Staff answers are general information to help you understand your options. For a question you'd rather not post, you can book a free one-on-one consultation through the Business Help Desk.
What do paid memberships add?
Paid memberships start at $192 a year and add benefits such as networking events, promotion across Chamber channels, and a direct voice in the Chamber's policy work. Compare memberships.
I'm a member but can't log in. What should I do?
Email info@manhattancc.org or call (212) 473-7875 and we'll help you get in.
Pull up a chair
More than 125,000 businesses make Manhattan work. Manhattan Commons is where Chamber members help each other, and where the Chamber helps them.