NYC Awards Grants To Support Local Businesses In Underserved Neighborhoods

CHINATOWN, NY — The city is doling out more than $1 million in grants to support local businesses in underserved communities throughout the city, including to a Chinatown community organization that plans to use the money to encourage neighborhood residents to shop local.

Chinatown Partnership is one of 34 organizations throughout the city that is set to get some extra cash this year from the NYC Department of Small Business Services, the city announced on Wednesday. Through the department's Avenue NYC program, the city is doling out grants of up to $30,000 to support commercial districts in moderate- and low-income neighborhoods.

Chinatown Partnership is using its grant to develop a bilingual discount program that will offer residents of Chinatown and adjacent neighborhoods coupons to use at local shops and stores.

Wellington Chen, the executive director of the partnership, told Patch that the discount program would serve two goals: encouraging residents to support home-grown businesses and bringing more patronage and attention to the diversity of small businesses in Chinatown. Chen said that the discount program, which will send coupons to residents in three zip codes in and near the neighborhood, will help residents support local merchants in a convenient way.

Chen said Chinatown is often "miscast," and that locals and outsiders alike often don't appreciate the diversity of the neighborhood's offerings. The discount program, he said, would help advertise the range of local businesses, "so you won't just think you're going to Panda Express," when you visit the neighborhood.

The partnership's program, which was developed by William Tam, will also help area merchants retain loyal and local customers, Chen said.

"People mistakenly believe that we want tourists," Chen said of Chinatown businesses. "But what's the chance of them coming back for a second scoop of ice cream?"

Other grants in lower Manhattan will go to support the Lower East Side Partnership, which plans to use the money to promote the Essex Street Market, and the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, which will work to advertise businesses along East Broadway. The neighborhood council also has plans to develop a healthy food guide and a food ambassador program. All of the grants, which the city announced on Wednesday, are going toward specific, local projects.

"The Avenue NYC initiative is investing in local, community-based organizations to help strengthen and preserve small business corridors across our city," Gregg Bishop, the department's commissioner, said in a statement. "Small businesses are an essential part of building vibrant neighborhoods, and the grants we are awarding today will help meet tailored, local needs."

Lead image courtesy of Norbert Nagel via Wikimedia Commons.