City Awards Over $2 Million in Multi-Year Grants to Support Neighborhood Recovery - SBS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 10, 2021

CITY AWARDS OVER $2 MILLION IN MULTI-YEAR GRANTS TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD RECOVERY

New York – NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris today announced that the City will award a total of $2.2 million in single- and multi-year Avenue NYC grants to 21 Community Based Development Organizations (CBDOs) working in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities.

"As we continue to rebuild our city, it is important city government continues to develop partnerships with CBDOs," said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. "That's why SBS is thrilled to partner with CBDOs and continue to award multi-year grants. We look forward to the continued work these organizations will do to support our small businesses and revitalize our most impacted commercial corridors."

"The Avenue NYC grants present a great opportunity for local non-profits, as it funds their work in helping our small businesses thrive after being affected by COVID," said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives and Co-Chair of the Racial Inclusion and Equity Taskforce. "Congratulations to the grantees, we are excited to see the impact you will have in your communities."

The Avenue NYC grants, funded with a combination of Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funding, is part of the City's continued focus on supporting small business and commercial district recovery.

The following 14 organizations will receive new grants to develop and staff commercial revitalization projects that address community-identified needs:

Asian Americans for Equality (Sunset Park)

Asian American Federation (Murray Hill)

Bronx Chamber of Commerce (Mott Haven)

Brooklyn Alliance (Canarsie and Homecrest)

Brooklyn Chinese-American Association (Sunset Park)

Chinatown Partnership (Chinatown)

Church Avenue BID (Flatbush)

Deh Abroad (Flatbush)

Flatbush-Nostrand Junction BID

Fordham Road BID (Fordham)

HABNET Chamber of Commerce (Flatbush)

Sunset Park BID (Sunset Park)

Think!Chinatown (Chinatown)

Yemeni American Merchant Association (multi-neighborhoods)

The following 7 organizations will receive a second or third year of funding to continue implementing their commercial revitalization projects:

Bridge Street Development Corporation (Bedford Stuyvesant)

Bay Ridge 5th Avenue (Bay Ridge)

Cooper Square Committee (East Village)

Morris Park BID (Morris Park)

Queens Economic Development Corporation (Richmond Hill)

Sunnyside Shines BID (Sunnyside)

Woodhaven BID (Woodhaven)

"This crucial grant award through Avenue NYC comes at a time when coordinated data collection and resources can make a difference in the recovery of our neighborhood small businesses," said Jennifer Sun, co-executive director of Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE). "As the community moves from the devastation of the pandemic to recovery and renewal, AAFE looks forward to working collaboratively with NYC Small Business Services and local stakeholders to generate data and community-driven solutions that can serve as a catalyst for equitable and inclusive economic revitalization in Sunset Park."

"Think!Chinatown is excited to receive this NYC SBS Avenue NYC grant to strengthen our neighborhood's local economy and the people, businesses and organizations that support it, said Amy Chin, President of the Think!Chinatown Board. "This multi-year funding from the Department of Small Business Services will enable Think!Chinatown to hire a full-time Program Manager to work on a comprehensive Commercial District Needs Assessment that will inform future strategies for Chinatown's economic recovery and sustainability. It will also spur commercial revitalization projects driven by local voices. This is a changemaker for Chinatown. We are grateful for this investment in us and in our neighborhood."

Wilma Alonso, Executive Director of the Fordham Road BID said, "We are pleased and honored to be part of the FY22 Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grantees; this multi-year grant is going to provide us with the capacity to conduct a Commercial District Need Assessment that will help us to solidify the sustainability of the larger retail commercial corridor in the Bronx."

Antonio Buddington, Chairman of the Deh Abroad Village Network said, "We are a community-based organization focusing on providing services to the neediest communities. We appreciate the opportunity by the NYC Small Business Services through the award of the Avenue NYC grant to provide critical services to the businesses in East Flatbush who are still hurting from the major disruptions caused by COVID-19. This grant award by SBS will help to save many businesses."

"The Yemeni American Merchants Association is honored to receive the FY22 Avenue, NYC Grant," said Abeer Alharazi, Interim Executive Director of YAMA. "This grant will help us serve Yemeni American small businesses across NYC. Now more than ever, small businesses deserve our support to honor their service as frontline workers and essential businesses."

Wellington Chen, Executive Director of the Chinatown BID/Partnership said, "The Chinatown District Management Association, Inc. (Chinatown BID) is excited to be awarded this new 2022 Avenue NYC Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA) grant from NYC Department of Small Business Services to conduct a much needed and timely in-depth community survey/study."

"The pandemic has shown us the importance of neighborhood development and merchant organizing, especially in communities of color," said Randy Peers, President & CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. "The investment in the Avenue NYC program represents an important effort at building resilience and equity in communities that have been under-resourced and in need of support to facilitate recovery."

"We are excited to play a role in helping shape the future of Mott Haven's thriving commercial corridor at this critical juncture," said Lisa Sorin, President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. "We look forward to working with local merchants, community groups, and the City to assess and address the needs of the district, especially at this time of unprecedented development and investment in the neighborhood."

"Community-based development organizations are on the ground providing resources and supporting our small businesses, which is why we need to support their work now more than ever," said Council Member Adrienne Adams. "I'm thrilled that SBS will award multi-year grants to these local nonprofits and continue to address the growing needs of our communities. Our commercial corridors require these important investments so they can recover from the pandemic and thrive."

"Small businesses are the cornerstones of our commercial corridors, attracting thousands of residents and tourists to shop and dine locally year-round. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented setback, our city's resilient spirit has fueled our recovery. Economic stability and sustainability are feasible in hard-hit communities like Flatbush because of partnerships with SBS, the Flatbush Nostrand Junction BID, and the HABNET Chamber of Commerce. The Avenue NYC grant is a $2.2 million lifeline that will expand their capacity to help anchor small businesses continue to enrich our communities while strengthening our economy," said Council Member Farah N. Louis.

"I want to commend The NYC Department of Small Business Services and Commissioner Jonnel Doris for awarding over $2 million in grants to 21 community-based development organizations that will help with the small business and commercial district recovery," said Council Member Mathieu Eugene. "We all know how difficult the COVID-19 pandemic has been for our local entrepreneurs and small business owners whose livelihood is dependent upon in-person commerce. The Avenue NYC grants represent an important investment by the City of New York in local non-profit organizations, and one that I believe will help business owners regain their economic footing and build a stronger future for the community. I am pleased that organizations throughout New York City will be receiving these grants, and I am hopeful that this initiative is successful in helping hardworking business owners regain their financial strength."

"Our small businesses need all the help they can get, as our city recovers from the pandemic. I applaud this grant program for showing that city government can work to support our small businesses. The Woodhaven BID is a great organization in my district and I'm sure they'll make judicious use of the funds to help Woodhaven businesses," said Council Member Robert Holden.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, "I'm thrilled that organizations throughout Southern Brooklyn will be recipients of these Avenue NYC grants, both new and recurring. Investing in our community-based organizations to help spur economic recovery is a win-win and I'm looking forward to seeing how they create change in our community."

State Senator John Liu said, "Local commercial districts are often the linchpin in communities across New York but have been economically battered during the pandemic crisis. This financial assistance is badly needed and will help small businesses and vital community support organizations survive and thrive going forward. Much thanks to the entire SBS team, including Deputy Mayor Thompson, Commissioner Doris, and the amazing and fantabulous Miguelina Aristy."

"Locally grown neighborhood businesses and merchants strengthen the fabric of our communities, but the climate has been tough," said State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. "I am very pleased that Avenue NYC funding will help the Brooklyn Alliance work with small businesses along the Rockaway Parkway Corridor. We have a motivated group of merchants ready to tackle the issues and work to improve business in Canarsie. My staff and I will continue to offer support to make the corridor viable."

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 NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
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, go to nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.