BID Development Grant Program

The BID Development Grant Program will fund community-based development organizations (CBDOs) to explore or further the formation of a Business Improvement District (BID). The program builds on Mayor Adams' commitment to establishing a long-term investment strategy to strengthen and support small businesses in underserved commercial corridors, as outlined in Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City's Economic Recovery, released earlier this year.

Additional information on BID Formation is available here and in our Comprehensive Guide to BID Formation and Expansion.

FY26 BID Formation Grants

BID Formation Grants are available to place-based community-based development organizations (CBDOs) that are currently working with SBS and a formal steering committee that has completed and analyzed needs assessment survey data.

• Applicants may be in the planning or outreach phases of the BID formation or expansion process. (Learn more here)
• Up to $100,000 per year per neighborhood will be awarded to grantees for the staffing, planning, and implementation of a BID formation or expansion proposal.

Read the BID Development Grant program guidelines here

Who Can Apply

Place-based CBDOs (Chambers of Commerce, local development corporations, merchants associations, and other organizations), operating within the five boroughs of New York City that are:

• Nonprofit CBDOs operating within the five boroughs of New York City that are currently coordinating, or serving as the fiscal conduit for a formal BID Formation Steering Committee
• Nonprofit organizations incorporated in New York State
• Organizations compliant with annual State and Federal filing requirements

How to Apply

Applications for FY26 are now open and due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 30: https://smallbusinessservices.smapply.io/

If you do not qualify for the BID Formation Grants but are interested in supporting your commercial corridors, please refer to the FY26 Merchant Organizing Grant