Small BID Support Grant Program

The Small Business Improvement District Support Grant Program is administered by the Neighborhood Development Division of the New York City Department of Small Business Services. The division works with community-based organizations to build vibrant neighborhoods, oversees New York City's Business Improvement District network, provides training and assistance to local organizations, administers grant programs, and works with community partners to identify commercial district needs and targeted solutions. The program is intended to address resource access and equity challenges among smaller BIDs and BIDs serving low- to moderate-income communities. The Single District Small BID Support Grants provide funding to place-based nonprofit organizations that are already addressing commercial corridor recovery, management, and growth within eligible New York City Business Improvement District boundaries. Eligible districts are BIDs with FY26 annual assessments less than or equal to 600000, or BIDs with annual assessments less than or equal to 1000000 that are located in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Funding must be used for the benefit of the eligible BID and for activities within the designated service area. The grant provides up to 100000 per designated service area for Fiscal Year 2027, with a standard grant term of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Funds may support staffing, planning, and implementation of commercial revitalization projects. Eligible costs include necessary expenses to plan, launch, execute, and expand commercial revitalization projects, including direct project expenses, outside professional services, advertising, promotion, marketing, personnel services, fringe, and certain shared costs. Subcontractors are capped at 50 percent of the award, fringe billed to the grant may not exceed 20 percent, and OTPS expenses may not exceed 10 percent of the annual proposed budget. Applicants may apply under Option 1 to conduct a Commercial District Needs Assessment in partnership with SBS, or under Option 2 to select up to three program components. Under Option 2, applicants must select at least one of Business Support and Retention, Retail Attraction, or Public Realm Activation. Additional possible components include Cleanliness and Beautification, Public Safety, Special Events and Public Programming, District Marketing, Planning and Technical Assistance, and BID Expansion. Ineligible uses include re-granting or lending funds to individual businesses, construction costs or equipment purchases for individual businesses or properties, lobbying, alcohol, and electronic equipment purchases. Eligible applicants must be incorporated nonprofit corporations that operate, or have authority to operate, in New York City. They must comply with applicable annual State and Federal filing requirements, including New York State Charities Bureau filings, provide existing commercial revitalization services within eligible New York City BID geographies, and comply with other SBS requirements and expectations. Awarded organizations must also meet City contracting requirements, including Charities Bureau registration, PASSPort questionnaires, Payee Information Portal registration, direct deposit enrollment, required disclosure forms, audited financial statements, required insurance coverage, and program-specific reporting. Applications are submitted online through SurveyMonkey Apply. Required application elements include nonprofit entity verification, organization information, legal entity name, EIN, optional DUNS number, organization profile, eligible district selection, program component selection, demonstration of need, proposal description, success measures, organizational capacity narrative, and an uploaded program budget template. Applications will be reviewed competitively by an SBS review committee using three criteria: Demonstration of Need worth 30 points, Proposal Strength worth 40 points, and Organizational Capacity worth 30 points. Applications are open now and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 8, 2026. No required pre-application deadline, letter of intent, or concept paper deadline was identified in the source material. The performance period is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. All inquiries should be directed to neighborhoods@sbs.nyc.gov. The source material does not state a recurring application schedule or award notification date.

Align district challenges with selected program components and support the need with objective data where possible. Keep the proposal streamlined, finite, and achievable, with no more than three components and clear deliverables that can be completed by the end of the fiscal year. Show measurable quantitative and qualitative outcomes, realistic timelines, and a budget that clearly aligns resources with activities. Emphasize innovative, unique, and creative projects beyond ordinary BID assessment-funded services. Maintain contracting readiness because funding and payments depend on registration, compliance, reporting, and performance.