In 1984, New York City was pulling itself out from the depths of a decade of crisis. The city shed more than one-tenth of its population in the prior decade, arsonists scorched entire blocks of homes and businesses, and families that had called New York home for generations were fleeing to the suburbs.
Near Union Square, a handful of shopkeepers decided to band together and plant a stake in their city’s future. Not content with scrubbing graffiti from their windows each morning, they formed the Union Square Partnership—the city’s first Business Improvement District or “BID.”
Over the last 40 years, New York City has become home to the nation’s largest network of BIDs, with 75 non-profit organizations covering nearly 300 miles of commercial corridors that – last year alone – infused more than $194 million in services into our city’s local neighborhoods and economy. The post-Covid economic recovery we are seeing is bolstered by the strength of our BID partners, which supplement city services and promote the unique characteristics of our neighborhoods. In the darkest days of the pandemic, the city and the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) worked hand-in-hand with our BID partners to get financial relief directly into the pockets of more than 10,000 business owners, share information about regulations as they changed almost daily, and distribute countless masks and PPE. Today, when businesses ask their BIDs where to go for loans or help with a lease, they know that they can go to one of SBS’s 7 NYC Business Solutions Centers, use the state-of-the-art NYC Funds Finder online marketplace, or call our team to be enrolled in the Commercial Lease Assistance program.
A new analysis by the SBS shows that on average, every day BIDs collect 10,000 trash bags, remove more than 1,000 instances of graffiti, and engage 1,300 visitors. They raise the profile of our commercial districts through advocacy, community events, beautification, and small business support.
For instance, this past year, the Chinatown BID partnered with local charities and nonprofits to distribute over 200 free security cameras to businesses in their district to address the safety concerns of Chinatown residents. The Woodhaven BID hosted their annual street fair, transforming busy streets into flourishing commercial corridors for neighborhood residents to shop from local vendors offering food, clothing, jewelry, home decor, handmade crafts, and more. And to improve safety around Sgt. Joyce Kilmer Square in Brooklyn, the Kings Highway BID installed additional streetlamp fixtures and tree lights – brightening the corridor and helping to create a safer nightlife environment.
Efforts like these attract visitors to commercial zones and play a pivotal role in helping the city’s 200,000+ small businesses and residents thrive. By investing in our BIDs, new shops and restaurants help replace empty storefronts, making our city stronger, safer, and more resilient. Since Mayor Adams took office, the administration has made historic investments in BIDs as trusted partners in equitable economic development. This includes recognizing the crucial role of BIDs in the New New York plan and allocating $27 million in SBS neighborhood grants, which we are proud to continue next year. These funds support the formation of new merchants associations and BIDs, help smaller BIDs enhance their services, and boost locally designed programs that improve lighting, attract new businesses, and prioritize the revitalization of our commercial areas.
As we celebrate the 40th birthday of the Union Square Partnership, our city’s partnership with BIDs enters its fifth decade stronger than ever. On May 6th, the city will celebrate the second annual “BID Day,” with more than 40 BIDs across the five boroughs showcasing their impact on our neighborhoods with door-to-door outreach, tabling, clean-up days, community service events, social media campaigns, live music, and more! With these new investments, we are continuing our shared mission to revitalize our neighborhoods and create safer, cleaner, and more prosperous communities. These are the goals that are transforming New York into a City of Yes.
Kevin D. Kim is the commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. Erin Piscopink and Robert Benfatto are co-chairs of the NYC BID Association.
Kevin D. Kim, Erin Piscopink, Robert Benfatto , 2024-05-03 18:03:03
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