SBS Commissioner Announces $4.79M in Grants to Support Merchants Associations, Business Improvement Districts - SBS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 26, 2024

SBS COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES $4.79 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT MERCHANTS ASSOCIATIONS, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

Second Year of Grants Builds on $22 Million in Historic Investments in Developing City's Commercial Corridors

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim today announced that the city is awarding $4.79 million in grants to 69 organizations to support neighborhood-based merchants associations and commercial corridors. On the heels of Mayor Adams's third State of the City and in policies outlined by the city and state's joint "New" New York Plan, these grants put resources directly into community organizations across all five boroughs, empowering local residents to improve the livability, cleanliness, and safety of their neighborhoods.

The $4.79 million will be distributed in four categories: $915,000 for Merchant Organizing Strategic Impact Grants, $585,000 in Business Improvement District (BID) Development Grants, $375,000 for Citywide Small BID Support Grants, and $2.9 million for Single District Small BID Grants.

"This next round of neighborhood development grants reflects our administration's commitment to our city's neighborhoods and public spaces," said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. "I want to thank our community partners for their steadfast work in the equitable development of commercial corridors across the five boroughs. These historic investments will make New York City a safer, more prosperous place for everyone."

"I am so proud to announce this year's merchant organizing and BID grant recipients," said SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. "These grants allow us to invest directly into some of our city's greatest assets: its diverse, vibrant neighborhoods and commercial corridors. I want to thank all of our BID and community partners for all their hard work in making NYC the City of Yes for small business."

"Our business improvement districts and merchants associations are essential partners in maintaining and activating our lively commercial corridors, transforming them into vibrant public spaces," said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. "I applaud the NYC Department of Small Business Services for providing our partners with much-needed financial support as they do important work in our local communities every day."

"I applaud the Dept. of Small Business Services for investing in our communities by way of this $4.79 million in grant funding," said New York City Council Member Oswald Feliz. "Small businesses bring opportunity to our communities, and ensure commercial corridors remain vibrant. We must support them every way we can."

"Fostering vibrant neighborhoods requires strategic investment in our communities, and these grants demonstrate the significant efforts the Adams Administration is making towards that goal," said "New" New York Executive Director B.J. Jones. "These local organizations across the five boroughs are on the frontlines helping to improve the quality of life for residents, visitors, and businesses."

"This injection of funding for smaller Business Improvement Districts greatly expands our capacity and is a worthy and high-impact community investment! With these funds we are able to increase our supplemental sanitation services, commission public art, launch new programs to support small businesses, and positively impact the neighborhoods we serve," said Robert Benfatto and Erin Piscopink, Co-Chairs, NYC BID Association. "BIDs are nimble, responsive and uniquely positioned to promote the quality of life and economic success of our neighborhoods. These grants give us the opportunity to innovate and expand services that do just that. The New York City BID Association thanks Mayor Adams and the City Council for their continued support."

Merchant Organizing Strategic Impact Grants will go to 11 neighborhood-based nonprofit organizations to both form new merchants associations and support existing ones. Projects and services will align with best practices outlined in SBS's Comprehensive Guide to Starting a Merchants Association. The following 11 organizations will receive a combined $915,000 in grants:

Asian American Federation, Elmhurst, Queens

Bangladeshi Humanitarian and Leadership Outreach (BHALO), Jamaica, Queens

Brooklyn Alliance, Canarsie, Brooklyn

Deh Abroad Village, East Flatbush, Brooklyn

Inwood Merchant Association, Inwood, Manhattan

Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Oakland Gardens, Queens

KRVC Development Corp., Riverdale, Bronx

New York Women's Chamber of Commerce, West Harlem, Manhattan

Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition, Kingsbridge Heights, Bronx

Queens County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, College Point, Queens

Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, Rosebank, Staten Island

BID Development Grants will be disbursed to 14 community-based development organizations (CBDOs) to fund the staffing, planning, and implementation of new BID formation. The following 14 CBDOs will receive a combined $585,000 in grants to begin the BID formation process:

Alliance for Coney Island, Coney Island, Brooklyn

Bridge Street Development Corporation/North Nostrand Avenue Merchants Association, Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Carnegie Hill Neighbors, Upper East Side, Manhattan

Community League of the Heights, Washington Heights, Manhattan

Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, East New York, Brooklyn

Davidson Community Center, Burnside-Jerome-Tremont (BJT), Bronx

Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Gowanus, Brooklyn

Little Haiti BK, Flatbush, Brooklyn

Rockaway East Merchants Association For United Synergy (REMA4US), Rockaway, Queens

South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation/Smith Street Alliance, Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, St. George, Tompkinsville, and Stapleton, Staten Island

Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, Mariners Harbor, Staten Island

Uptown Grand Central, East Harlem, Manhattan

West Brighton Community Local Development Corporation, West Brighton, Staten Island

Citywide Small BID Support Grants will go to two organizations to help small BIDs with technical assistance, including consultations, workshops, and planning. The following organizations will receive a combined $375,000:

Bronx Economic Development Corporation, Bronx

Urban Design Forum, Brownsville, Brooklyn; Capitol District, Bronx; Sunnyside, Queens

Single District Small BID Grants will go to 42 BIDs across the city and are awarded to small BIDs with assessments under $1 million. The following 42 BIDs will receive a combined $2.9 million in grants:

161st Street BID, Grand Concourse, Bronx

82nd Street Partnership, Jackson Heights, Queens

86th Street Bay Ridge BID, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Atlantic Avenue BID, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, and Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Bayside Village BID, Bayside, Queens

Bed-Stuy Gateway BID, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

Belmont BID, Belmont and Little Italy, Bronx

Brighton Beach BID, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn

Castle Hill BID, Castle Hill, Bronx

Church Flatbush Community Alliance, Flatbush, Brooklyn

Columbus Amsterdam BID, Upper West Side and Manhattan Valley, Manhattan

Columbus Avenue BID, Upper West Side, Manhattan

Downtown Flushing Transit Hub BID, Flushing, Queens

East Brooklyn BID, East New York, Brooklyn

Flatbush-Nostrand Junction BID, Flatbush, Brooklyn

Forest Avenue BID, West Brighton, Staten Island

Fulton Area Business (FAB) Alliance, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Graham Avenue BID, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Grand Street BID, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Jerome-Gun Hill BID, Norwood, Bronx

Kings Highway BID, Midwood, Brooklyn

Montague Street BID, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn

Morris Park BID, Morris Park, Bronx

Myrtle Avenue BID, Ridgewood, Queens

Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

New Dorp Lane BID, New Dorp, Staten Island

NoHo NY BID, NoHo, Manhattan

North Flatbush Avenue BID, Park Slope and Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Pitkin Avenue BID, Brownsville, Brooklyn

South Shore BID, Great Kills, Eltingville, and Annadale, Staten Island

Southern Boulevard BID, Longwood, Bronx

Steinway Street BID, Astoria, Queens

Sunnyside Shines BID, Sunnyside, Queens

Sunset Park BID, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Throggs Neck BID, Throggs Neck, Bronx

Washington Heights BID, Washington Heights, Manhattan

West Shore BID, West Shore, Staten Island

West Village BID, West Village, Manhattan

Westchester Square BID, Westchester Square, Bronx

Woodhaven BID, Woodhaven, Queens

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, Instagram, and LinkedIn.