City Opens Applications for $2M in Multi-Year Grants to Support Nonprofits Guiding Recovery in LMI Neighborhoods - SBS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 14, 2021

CITY OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR $2 MILLION IN MULTI-YEAR GRANTS TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS GUIDING RECOVERY IN LOW-TO-MODERATE-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS

NEW YORK – NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris today opened applications for up to $2 million in grant awards to support Community Based Development Organizations (CDBOs) working in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities. The grants, funded by SBS’ Avenue NYC program, is part of the City’s continued focus on supporting small business and commercial district recovery.

"As the City continues to reopen, it is important that we work together in bringing our small businesses back stronger than ever," said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives and Co-Chair of the Racial Inclusion and Equity Taskforce. "The Avenue NYC grants will help local nonprofits revitalize commercial corridors and continue to champion for our small businesses.”

“The City is committed in ensuring the needs of our small businesses are met," said Jonnel Doris Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, “The Avenue NYC investments will help strengthen our nonprofit partners, and will spur continued recovery and revitalization across the city’s neighborhoods.”

Funding will be distributed over the course of three years through two grant types: Commercial Revitalization and Organizational Development Grants. Selected organizations will use grant awards to develop and staff commercial revitalization projects that address community-identified needs and opportunities for commercial districts in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.

Commercial Revitalization Grants

The Commercial Revitalization (CR) Grants will help nonprofit CBDOs that serve a single LMI neighborhood assess their community needs and carry out merchant organizing, district marketing, and small business support.

Each CR grant will include funding of up to $100,000 per year for three years. Selected CBDOs will use funding to hire a dedicated full-time program manager. Grantees can also expect to receive:

Assistance for grantees to complete a Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA), that will assess neighborhood needs and opportunities, and help grantees plan and implement impactful, data-driven projects, and

Monthly cohort-based trainings for program managers to receive technical assistance, best practice sharing, and capacity building support.

Eligible CBDOs serving one LMI neighborhood can learn more and apply at nyc.gov/avenuenyc. Applications close on June 13th.

Organizational Development Grants

Organizational Development (OD) Grants will fund citywide nonprofit organizations that provide technical assistance to multiple CBDOs across the city. Nonprofit technical assistance providers that receive these grants will provide free legal assistance, fiscal and project management, leadership development, coaching, and other programs to build CBDOs’ organizational capacity.

Each OD Grant will include funding of up to $100,000 per year for anywhere between one and three years.

Eligible nonprofit technical assistance providers that design and implement assistance programs applicable to CBDOs across the city can learn more and apply at nyc.gov/avenuenyc. Applications close on June 6th.

About Avenue NYC

SBS’ Avenue NYC program is a competitive grant program that funds and builds the capacity of CBDOs, including business improvement districts (BIDs), local development corporations, merchants associations and other locally-serving nonprofits operating in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, to execute commercial revitalization projects. Avenue NYC is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. More information on Avenue NYC can be found at nyc.gov/avenuenyc.

About the Department of Small Business Services

SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information on all SBS services, visit nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.