Image Credit: SBS
Funding from the Avenue NYC and Neighborhood 360 grant programs will be awarded to 24 nonprofits working towards pandemic recovery in low to moderate income neighborhoods. On July 13, 2022, the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) announced it will award $3.8 million in multi-year grants through the Avenue NYC and Neighborhood 360 programs. This investment will be divided among 24 community-based development organizations working in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.
Avenue NYC
Funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program, SBS’ competitive Avenue NYC grant program serves a wide array of community-based development organizations. The program awards grants of up to $100,000 per year for up to three years, for a maximum possible award of $300,000. Avenue NYC also dedicates funding for a full-time program manager, assists grantees in completing a Commercial District Needs Assessment, and financially supports projects informed by Needs Assessment findings.
Five organizations will be first time recipients: Bridge Street Development Corporation of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Chinese American Association based in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn, also located in Bensonhurst, Mosholu Preservation Corporation of Wakefield, Bronx, and Queens Economic Development Corporation in Astoria.
Ten additional nonprofits will be receiving second or third year funding to continue implementing local commercial revitalization projects. These include:
- Asian American Federation, Murray Hill, Queens
- Bridge Street Development Corporation, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Alliance, Canarsie and Homecrest, Brooklyn
- Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Mott Haven, Bronx
- Brooklyn Chinese American Association, Sunset Park, Brooklyn
- Church Avenue Business Improvement District, Flatbush, Brooklyn
- Fordham Road Business Improvement District, Fordham, Bronx
- Morris Park Business Improvement District, Morris Park, Bronx
- Think!Chinatown, Chinatown, Manhattan
- Woodhaven Business Improvement District, Woodhaven, Queens
Additionally, five citywide community-based development organizations were awarded a combined $295,000 to provide technical assistance to SBS’ nonprofit partners. These include BRIC Arts Media, Coro New York Leadership Center, Lawyers Alliance for New York, Ideas42, and the Support Center for Nonprofit Management.
Neighborhood 360
Unlike the federally funded Avenue NYC program, Neighborhood 360 helps community-based development organizations address issues already documented in Needs Assessments. Grantees work alongside local stakeholders to identify, develop, and launch commercial revitalization projects.
Five first-time Neighborhood 360 recipients will receive grants to support local businesses over the next three years: CaribBEING and Little Haiti BK in Flatbush, Brooklyn, Riseboro Community Partnership of Bushwick, Brooklyn, Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco), located in Crotona Park East & Longwood, Bronx, and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, also based in Crotona Park East & Longwood.
Eight additional nonprofits will receive a second and third year of Neighborhood 360 funding:
- Alliance for Coney Island, Coney Island, Brooklyn
- Brownsville Community Justice Center/Center for Court Innovation, Brownsville, Brooklyn
- Council of Peoples Organization, Flatbush-Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
- Flatbush Development Corporation, Flatbush-Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
- Mosholu Preservation Corporation, Bedford Park & Norwood, Bronx
- Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District, Brownsville, Brooklyn
- Queens Economic Development Corporation, Corona, Queens
- Rockaway East Merchants Association, Downtown Far Rockaway, Queens
SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim stated, “As we all collaborate on spurring New York City’s economic recovery, SBS is proud to support community-based development organizations throughout the five boroughs. The Avenue NYC and Neighborhood 360° investments will bolster the ability of our nonprofit partners to assist local small businesses in neighborhoods that need the most help.”
Deputy Mayor of Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer: “Our city’s commitment to an equitable economic recovery is steadfast. These funds will go directly to helping communities most in need and put into practice promises made in our Economic Blueprint.”
Mayor Eric Adams: “Our nonprofits play a vital role in ensuring the vitality of our small business sector, and these grants will help them better deliver on that mission.”
By: Cassidy Strong (Cassidy is a CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2024.)