The 2024 BID Exploration Grants are available to either citywide or place-based community-based development organizations (CBDOs) that are currently working with local stakeholders interested in BID formation or expansion who have not yet completed a needs assessment survey.
Donor Name: NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
State: New York
City: New York City
Borough: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/11/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $20,000
Details:
The BID Development Grant program was created by the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to identify and develop proposals for the formation of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in areas where they would benefit local stakeholders.
The program focus of the BID Exploration Grant is to provide strategic funding to support the establishment of a formal steering committee & stakeholder database and to demonstrate the value of and help catalyze local stakeholders to assist and support a formal BID Formation effort. BID Exploration activities should be designed to proactively identify key influential stakeholders to serve on a steering committee, provide input on needs assessment outreach, and gather early support for potential BID formation. All BID Exploration grantees should seek to establish a formal steering committee, a working database of property ownership and business information, a needs assessment survey, and one or two commercial revitalization activities at the conclusion of funding.
Funding Information
Up to $20,000 per year per neighborhood will be awarded to grantees for initial funding of BID exploration.
Grant Duration
The term of BID Exploration and Formation agreements will be from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
Example Projects/Activities
- Establish Formal Steering Committee (required within the first two months for BID Exploration grantees)
- Coordinate & facilitate Steering Committee meetings (at least monthly)
- Maintaining regular and up to date roster of Steering Committee members
- Coordinating Steering Committee activities, questions, and needs with SBS
- Notify SBS when external meetings or events/announcements are planned
- Develop procedures for press inquiries, establish e-mails, websites, and limited branding for use during BID formation
- Determine four key variables for BID proposal including boundaries, budget, services, and method of assessment
- Participation in neighborhood planning efforts
- Participation in SBS capacity building & technical assistance services.
Designated Service Areas
In proposing a targeted geography for BID Formation or BID Exploration grants, organizations are required to target specific commercial corridor(s) that fit within the parameters of the current BID Development Program grant focus.
The 2024 BID Exploration Grant Program will target the following neighborhoods:
- Existing Business Improvement Districts: expansion efforts only
- Bronx: Mott Haven and Melrose, Hunts Point and Longwood, Morrisania and Crotona, Highbridge and Concourse, Fordham and University Heights, Belmont and East Tremont, Kingsbridge, Parkchester and Soundview, Williamsbridge and Baychester, Edenwald
- Brooklyn: Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Brighton Beach, Bushwick, East New York and Starrett City, Sunset Park, Coney Island, Flatbush and Midwood, Brownsville, East Flatbush, Flatlands and Canarsie, Sheepshead Bay
- Manhattan: Central Harlem, Chinatown & Little Italy, East Harlem, East Village, Hamilton Heights, Inwood, Lower East Side, Morningside Heights, Tribeca, Washington Heights
- Queens: Briarwood, Corona, Jamaica, Queensbridge, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Flushing South, Richmond Hill, Rockaway, Kew Gardens, Woodhaven, South Ozone Park, Rockaway & Broad Channel, Jamaica, Queens Village
- Staten Island: St. George, Tompkinsville, Stapleton, Port Richmond, Mariner’s Harbor.
Eligibility Criteria
Citywide or place-based CBDOs (Chambers of Commerce, local development corporations, merchants associations, and other organizations), operating within the five boroughs of New York City that are:
- Nonprofit CBDOs operating within the five boroughs of New York City that are currently coordinating, or serving as the fiscal conduit for stakeholders interested in BID Formation
- Organizations who will operate and utilize the grant in Designated Service Areas (see program guidelines for full list)
- Nonprofit organizations incorporated in New York State
- Organizations compliant with annual State and Federal filing requirements.
For more information, visit SBS.
