NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Gregg Bishop today announced $1.3 million in grant awards to community-based development organizations (CBDOs) to boost underserved neighborhoods through revitalization projects. The awards, funded by SBS’ Avenue NYC initiative, will be used to strengthen CBDOs’ capacity to carry out tailored, multi-year commercial revitalization programs in low- and moderate-income communities. The multi-year awards aim to enhance the capacity of CBDOs to understand local neighborhood needs and deliver impactful community development projects.
Each grantee will be awarded $100,000 per year for up to three years.
“As New Yorkers, we take great pride in our neighborhoods, which is why the City is committed to empowering community-based organizations to strengthen and preserve their neighborhoods,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “This year, Avenue NYC is awarding four more neighborhoods the funding and support they need to build vibrant communities.”
The following four CBDOs have been selected to receive new multi-year grant awards:
- Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
- Lower East Side Partnership, East Village, Manhattan
- Queens Economic Development Corporation, Richmond Hill, Queens
- Sunnyside Shines BID, Sunnyside, Queens
Additionally, the following nine CBDOs were awarded nearly $1 million in combined Avenue NYC grants in 2018, which will continue to support neighborhood projects this year. These CDDOs have already used the funding to engage the community through merchant and consumer surveys to complete Commercial District Needs Assessments.
- Chhaya Community Development Corporation, Jackson Heights, Queens
- Community League of the Heights, Washington Heights, Manhattan
- Flatbush Development Corporation, Flatbush, Brooklyn
- Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation, Hunts Point, Bronx
- Harlem Park to Park Initiative, Harlem, Manhattan
- Jamaica Center Improvement Association, Jamaica, Queens
- Mosholu Preservation Corporation, Norwood, Bronx
- Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District, Brownsville, Brooklyn
- Rockaway Business Alliance, Rockaways, Queens
“It takes many types of small businesses and organizations to create a vibrant community,” said Council Member Adrienne Adams. “The Avenue NYC grant awards go a long way to help uplift commercial corridors and strengthen communities across our City. Congratulations to this year’s Avenue NYC awardees and the many neighborhoods that will benefit from their efforts.”
“The Queens Economic Development Corporation is looking forward to participating in the Avenue NYC program. Revitalizing commercial corridors is the backbone of neighborhood development, said Seth Bornstein, Executive Director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation. “Working with the New York City Department of Small Business Services we will strengthen the economy of the Richmond Hill community and make it a better place to live and do business.”
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 others operating in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods to execute commercial revitalization initiatives. Avenue NYC grant awards allow these organizations to hire a full-time program manager, and enable them to conduct an in-depth district needs assessment and execute commercial revitalization programming and services in their neighborhoods. 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.
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 or call 311.
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