Boro Park JCC Awarded Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grant From NYC SBS

By M.C. Millman 

The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) announced $4.4 million in grants to 25 NYC organizations, including the multi-year Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grant awarded to the Boro Park Jewish Community Council. 

"I am so proud to announce SBS's next round of neighborhood development grants, including the first-ever NDD Public Realm Grants," said SBS Acting Commissioner Dynishal Gross. "Our city's commercial corridors aren't just places people shop, but places where people from all walks of life meet, mix, work, visit, and live. By investing in our city's diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, we invest in everyone who calls our city home."

The new grants reflect the Adams administration's commitment to community-centered neighborhood development and public realm improvements and follow recommendations laid out in the "New" New York Action Plan by putting money directly into the hands of the residents, community leaders, and business owners who know the unique needs of their streets and commercial corridors. The additional $4.4 million in grants bolsters the historic investments in neighborhoods made by the administration since 2022, promoting public safety, livability, and NYC's economic recovery following the pandemic.

The BPJCC shared the combined $1.8 million Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grants with five other NYC nonprofit organizations to fund and build the capacity of CBDOs, BIDs, local development corporations, merchants associations, and other locally serving nonprofits operating in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods to execute commercial revitalization projects.

"The Boro Park Jewish Community Council is the flagship community building and neighborhood improvement organization in our Village of Borough Park, USA,," said New York City Council Member Kalman Yeger. "I could not be prouder that BPJCC qualified for this important grant to help build and strengthen commercial enterprise in our community. Working with our local businesses, BPJCC will have a greater capacity to showcase Boro Park's entrepreneurial spirit, our hard-working families, and our get-it-done attitude. I'm grateful to the SBS team and Mayor Adams' administration for giving voice to Borough Park's potential."

The first focus of the BPJCC funding will be on creating a comprehensive commercial district needs assessment to acquire pertinent information on every single business storefront in Boro Park. The survey will also bring to the forefront ways of helping local businesses with issues that may arise, such as when issued violations or other hyper-local problems.

"Our Boro Park mom-and-pop store owners are the core engine of the economy in our community," Avi Greenstein, BPJCC CEO, shares with BoroPark24. "These businesses allow our residents to have decent jobs to do well and care for their families. Being able to help businesses and store owners is especially exciting, and the BPJCC couldn't be more honored to have won this grant, which will allow for Boro Park businesses to be helped, which in turn will have a meaningful positive effect on the community."

Additional programs to assist Boro Park's local businesses will be set forth by the BPJCC during the three-year contract period based on the needs assessment findings.

"Brooklyn nonprofits are the anchors of our communities, and the more support they receive, the more crucial services they can deliver for the borough," said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. "I'm grateful to SBS for providing a variety of grants to Brooklyn nonprofits and community-based organizations."

The $4.4 million will be distributed in four categories: $1.8 million for Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grants, $425,000 for Avenue NYC Organizational Development Grants, $1.5 million for Neighborhood 360° Grants, and $650,000 for Public Realm Grants.