The SBS FY22 Business Improvement District Trends Report highlights the collective impact of BIDs, like us, in each borough and showcases how BIDs support commercial and industrial districts across the five boroughs. New York City has the nation’s largest network of BIDs. In FY22, BIDs:
- Collected 4 million trash bags, removed 440,000 instances of graffiti, and employed 739 sanitation workers.
- Devoted more than 580,000 hours to public safety programs, including 360,000 interactions with visitors
- Held more than 3,200 public events with total attendance of more than 30 million people
- Maintained 176 public spaces and installed 154 art installations to create vibrant, welcoming space for safe, outdoor activities.
“Our Business Improvement Districts are invaluable partners, helping to keep our public spaces active, our streets clean, and commercial corridors bustling with businesses and customers,” said Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development. “I’m proud to celebrate Small Business Month with our first ever ‘NYC BID Day,’ honoring their tireless work and impressive achievements.”
“NYC Small Business Month is all about celebrating the small businesses that form the backbone of our City,” said Kevin D. Kim, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “Unlocking the potential of New York City’s small businesses has been central to this Administration since Day One. This report highlights the central role BIDs have had in leading the recovery of our commercial corridors and neighborhoods. When we invest in BIDs we invest in our communities, which creates a stronger, more resilient City where small businesses can thrive.”
“This administration has made historic steps to support and highlight our Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) which provide invaluable support, marketing, and public events for our shopping districts. Last year, I approached the Administration to request that they provide grants to smaller Business Improvement Districts. Mayor Adams listened and supported my recommendation to subsidize funding for the first time ever to our BIDs which has benefitted neighborhoods and bolstered local businesses. I thank Commissioner Kim for continuing to prioritize BIDs by creating NYC BID Day to highlight the contributions they provide to our commercial corridors,” said Council Member Julie Menin, Chair of the New York City Council’s Small Business Committee.
“The NYC BID Association is proud to celebrate BID Day in partnership with the Department of Small Business Services. Our 76 BIDs are as diverse as the city itself and their staff work tirelessly every day to improve their communities. On a citywide basis our BIDs provide direct services to over 300 miles of commercial corridors including around 24,000 storefront businesses while investing more than $187M back into our communities annually. We are extremely grateful for the partnership of Mayor Adams and SBS as well as the property and business owners we serve. Thank you for this day of recognition,” said Robert J. Benfatto and David Estrada, Co-Chairs, NYC BID Association.
New York City is back, and our resurgence has been fueled by the efforts and partnership of the City’s BIDs. BIDs are community-based organizations funded by a special assessment on properties in their districts.
Since taking office in 2022, Mayor Adams and Small Business Services have made historic investments in New York City’s BIDs. SBS awarded more than $5 million in grants to BIDs and community-based organizations, infusing some of the City’s most underserved commercial corridors with the resources needed to encourage new growth and development. Additionally, Mayor Adams expanded the BID program with the creation of the West Village and Castle Hill BIDs, as well as the consolidated Jamaica Center BID.
This report describes how BIDs continue to play a central role in New York City, from the darkest days of the pandemic to the bright days ahead:
- City Partnerships: BIDs worked closely with the City in FY22 to make NYC cleaner and safer. BIDs piloted Clean Curbs waste containerization, participated in the Commercial Corridor Recovery Task Force, and served on the “New” New York Panel.
- Public Space Innovations: BIDs manage public spaces including pedestrian plazas, Open Streets, and parks. Last year, BIDs planted trees, hosted cultural programming, installed public art, managed pop-up markets, and more.
- Small Business Support: BIDs help small businesses through financial and operational challenges. They connect merchants to each other, plan promotions to encourage local shopping, and throw events to bring new visitors to their corridors.
- Clean & Safe: Sanitation and public safety are the “bread and butter” of BID services. In FY22, BIDs implemented technology solutions to streamline their operations and achieved cost savings through collaboration.
