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About the SBS Neighborhood Development Division (NDD)
The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has supported the creation and growth of non-profit economic development organizations since the 1970s. NDD provides several core services to help local economic development corporations serve their communities:
- Business Improvement District (BID) administration – From helping retail corridors come together to form a BID, to providing established BIDs with assistance and oversight, NDD makes it possible for BIDs to thrive in NYC.
- Avenue NYC Program – Avenue NYC is a funding program designed to help organizations such as LDCs, merchant associations, and BIDs revitalize low- to moderate-income communities.
- Workshops & Technical Assistance – NDD also offers various capacity building initiatives to help local economic development organizations address common issues. From programs designed to help fill vacant storefronts, to workshops and training, NDD helps neighborhood development organizations do more for New York City.
Elizabeth came to SBS in 2011 from the Cuomo Administration where she served as the Associate Commissioner for the New York State Department of Labor. Prior to that appointment, she spent seven years as an Assistant Deputy Counselor in the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General. She also worked in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and spent a year as a Coro Public Policy Fellow. She holds a B.A. in Literature and Rhetoric from SUNY Binghamton University and a J.D. from the University at Buffalo.
- Maria has been with the Department of Small Business Services for eight years. She currently serves as Executive Assistant to Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth De Leon. Born and raised in East Harlem, Maria is passionate about neighborhood redevelopment in New York City. Prior to joining SBS, Maria spent 24 years working at the NYC Department of Employment. She has an Associate Degree in Business Management from Orange County Community College. Maria also holds certifications in numerous computer programs.
- A New York City native, Eddy Eng is the Director of the BID Development Program. He has worked with SBS 1987 and with the BID Program since 1990. Eddy works with neighborhoods that want to form BIDs, assisting and guiding them through the planning and approval process and coordinating with all government participants. Eddy was a leader in the design and implementation of the Chinatown “Clean Streets” initiative, which secured $5.4 million from the federal government. Eddy is a winner of the 2006 Issac Liberman Public Service Awards, which recognizes City employees who have improved the quality of life rendered to the people of New York City, enhanced the prestige of City service, and demonstrated dedication well beyond their job descriptions. Eddy received a BBA from Baruch College and completed graduate course work at NYU Real Estate Institute.
- Leon Fonfa has worked in New York City government for over 30 years, in the Department of City Planning and the Department of Small Business Services. In his current role as Contract Manager, Leon manages Avenue NYC and City Council contracts, and sits on the boards of Business Improvement Districts as a supervisory representative of the Mayor of New York City. Additionally, Leon acts as the Neighborhood Development Division’s liaison for the Office of Management and Budget and the New York City Police Department. Leon holds a B.A. in Political Science and a M.A. in Urban Administration.
- Kris Goddard joined SBS in 2012 as Director of BID Expansion, where he is responsible for BID development and implementing SBS’ new cost sharing BID model, BID Express. Before beginning this role, Kris worked as a graduate intern with SBS in the Neighborhood Development Division, where he worked on the research and development of the BID Express program. Prior to joining SBS, Kris spent nearly five years working in corporate communications and media relations; preceding that, Kris worked for two years in university fundraising. Kris holds a masters degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University, and received his bachelors degree in 2004 from Brown University, where he majored in urban studies and sociology.
- Mahadya Mary has been with the Department of Small Business Services for over ten years, working as a Project Coordinator and Project Manager in the agency’s Microenterprise Unit. Currently, Mahadya is a Contract Manager with the Neighborhood Development Division where she manages Avenue NYC and City Council Contracts for commercial revitalization projects. Additionally, Mahadya is an active Board Member for several Business Improvement Districts, providing oversight on behalf of the Mayor. Prior to joining the Department of Small Business Services, Mahadya taught earth sciences at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. Mahadya is a certified Haitian-Creole Interpreter with the City of New York and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from The City University of New York.
- Michael Melamed started at SBS in 1994 in the Business Assistance Program, where he helped existing business and entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business with many needs like navigating NYC licensing and permitting requirements and technical assistance on a wide range of subjects pertaining to operating a business. In 2003, he joined the Neighborhood and District Development Unit. At NDD he is responsible for all aspects of billing for the city’s 67 Business Improvement Districts, and represents the Mayor on the Board of Directors of some of the city’s BIDs. Mr. Melamed also guides local groups during the BID planning process, helping them make the BID formation process successful. Prior to joining SBS, Mr. Melamed earned a B.A. in Economics in Brooklyn College.
- James Mettham is the Assistant Commissioner for the Neighborhood Development Divisionat the New York City Department of Small Business Services. In this role, James is responsible for working with each of the City’s Business Improvement Districts to assist with their development and implementation of programs and services that will enhance their respective commercial corridors. Prior to joining SBS, James worked on real estate development and strategic investment projects throughout the five boroughs at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. James holds a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Masters degree in Urban Planning from NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
- Jessica Taylor joined SBS after completing her Masters of Public Administration from Columbia University. Prior to graduate school, she worked for the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation on clinical service and quality management. Subsequently, Jessica served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala working for the Ministry of Education. During her time at Columbia’s SIPA program, she worked on projects with the NYC Office of Management and Budget and the US Department of State. She holds a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia.
Chris Bruno is the Performance Management and Policy Advisor for the Avenue NYC program at SBS. Prior to joining to SBS, Chris held positions in the legal and fundraising/ development sectors. During law school Chris held clerkships and internships with numerous law firms and City agencies. Chris spent the summer of 2011 as an intern with the General Counsel at NYC& Co., and the entire 11-12 school year as a clerk for both the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureaus, and Saperstein & Crowell, LLP. Prior to law school, Chris worked for 2 years in development for Fordham University’s Graduate School of Business Administration. Chris holds a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Political Science from Fordham University, and a J.D. from New York Law School where he focused on intellectual property and corporate governance and formation.
Joel comes to us from the office of Senator Charles E. Schumer (NY) where he worked as a Bodyman/Staff Assistant for the past 2 years. Prior to joining Senator Schumer’s office, Joel worked for former Senator Roland W. Burris (IL) in the same role. Joel has also spent time working for a number of political campaigns including the 2010 Tony Mack mayoral campaign (Trenton, NJ), 2012 Barrack Obama campaign (Akron, OH), and most recently the Coalition for School Reform (Los Angeles, CA). Joel is a recent graduate of Morehouse College with a B.A. in Political Science.
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