The NYC Department of Small Business Services - New Grant Announcements

New Grant Announced to Help Businesses Prepare for Natural Disasters

The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) this week launched a new grant to support small businesses and commercial properties in New York City floodplains become more resilient in the face of natural disasters. The BPREP Risk Assessment and Grant Program offers a free, one-on-one resiliency assessment to help businesses and commercial properties identify vulnerabilities and provides to eligible applicants an accompanying grant of up to $5,000 to strengthen their infrastructure with items like generators, fire and flood-proof storage, and flood barriers. 

Please note, eligibility for this program is limited. Funds will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who meet the following criteria:

·    The applicant must be an owner or tenant of a commercial property located in an area at risk of or with exposure to flooding.

·    The commercial property must be occupied by a small business operational for at least one (1) year at the time of application.

·    The applicant's annual revenue for the prior calendar year, or the most recent calendar year for which the applicant submitted a federal income tax return, must not exceed $30 million.

·    The applicant must not have previously received any grant or other benefit, including an assessment related to resiliency, from the BPREP Grant Program or the RISE:NYC program.

Eligible small businesses and commercial properties can click here to learn more and apply. Call 888-SBS-4NYC or contact SBS online with any questions.

About the Business Preparedness and Resiliency Program (BPREP)

The SBS BPREP program equips business owners citywide with essential tools to enhance their resilience, identifying vulnerabilities and bolstering overall preparedness. The Business Preparedness content on the MyCity Business website and SBS webinars offer accessible entry points for businesses to initiate their resilience journey and maintain readiness for any natural disaster.

Nonprofits can now apply for commercial revitalization grants to support NYC neighborhoods! 

·        Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grants

·        Neighborhood 360 Grants to support Red Hook, Port Richmond, and West Brighton

·        New Public Realm Grant Program

Preliminary applications for all programs are due on May 20, 2024. Click here to learn more and apply. Links to information sessions taking place on Wednesday, April 17th are included below for each grant program.

Please reach out to neighborhoods@sbs.nyc.gov with any questions.  

·        Information Session: Have questions? Register for the upcoming information session on Wednesday April 17 at 10 a.m.  

New Public Realm Grant Program

The Public Realm Grant provides funds to eligible nonprofit organizations that intend to address commercial district needs related to improvements in the public realm. Applicants must propose place-based projects to design, produce, and install creative streetscape improvement projects on commercial corridors. Proposals should respond to local conditions and opportunities related to lighting, public art, or wayfinding. Applicants are also encouraged to propose projects that incorporate elements related to district marketing, design innovation, or other quality of life improvements. Projects must be implemented on commercial corridors where there is substantial storefront business activity. Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process.

• In City Fiscal Year 2025, the program will include: 
• Grants of up to $100,000 per neighborhood for one year 
• Grantees will be responsible for the design, planning, and implementation of public realm projects, and all necessary permitting 
• Grant work must be implemented between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025
• Eligibility:
• Nonprofit organizations incorporated in New York State;
• Organizations compliant with annual State and Federal filing requirements.
• Information Session: Have questions? Register for the upcoming information session on Wednesday April 17 at 2 p.m.