The Neighborhood Achievement Awards annually honor the individuals, businesses and groups who share our commitment to building neighborhoods, creating jobs, and creating opportunities for New Yorkers. Deputy Mayor Robert K. Steel and Commissioner Robert W. Walsh will be holding the 2013 Neighborhood Achievement Awards in July to honor recipients from all five boroughs.

Nominations are now closed. See below for the award categories this year.

The Small Business of the Year Awards honor an entrepreneur in each borough whose business has significantly improved its neighborhood or demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community through offering new or enhanced products and services, generating new activity on a commercial strip, attracting new businesses to the area, or providing exceptional employment opportunities. 

• Queens Small Business of the Year
• Bronx Small Business of the Year
• Staten Island Small Business of the Year 
• Brooklyn Small Business of the Year
• Manhattan Small Business of the Year

The Adaptive Reuse/Preservation Award honors a business or organization that has transformed, preserved or restored an underutilized space into a vibrant re-adapted development, serving the diverse needs of the local community, delivering tangible benefits for the neighborhood or contributing to the overall identity of the neighborhood.

The Cultural Award recognizes a cultural institution that has made a major contribution to a neighborhood, generating economic activity and the growth of small business while employing local workers and adding to the artistic and educational fabric of New York City.  

The BID Leadership Award honors an individual working in a Business Improvement District who has gone above and beyond to revitalize their community and provide mentorship, guidance, and leadership to others in NYC. Their willingness to share best practices and strength of character is an inspiration to their peers. Nominations will only be accepted from other individuals who work in the 67 BIDs.

The Entrepreneur Award honors a start-up business or organization that successfully realized a creative idea and opened its doors in the past two years, providing an important product, service or community benefit.

The Norman Buchbinder Placemaking Award honors an individual, business or organization that has increased the visibility, stature, and overall identity of a neighborhood by highlighting and enhancing its look and feel, thereby increasing visitation or economic activity.  The award is presented in memory of Norman Buchbinder, a co-founder of the Union Square partnership, the city’s first Business Improvement District (BID), and founder of the Village Alliance BID.

The M/WBE of the Year Award honors a City-certified M/WBE that has shown a strong commitment to the City, has invested in growing, and has given back to the community. The winner’s leadership within the M/WBE community should have encouraged entrepreneurship among other minorities and women and whose success has strengthened New York City's small business landscape.

The Workforce Service Award honors an individual at a Workforce1 Center who gets results when connecting jobseekers with positions, provides excellent customer service, and truly makes an impact on the way we serve New Yorkers. Nominations will only be accepted from other individuals who work in the Workforce1 Centers.

New! The Helping Hand Award honors a business, organization, or individual that has demonstrated outstanding leadership to go above and beyond to help the people, businesses, and neighborhoods that were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

View the 2012 Neighborhood Achievement Awards Program to see last year's winners