The Neighborhood Business Grant is a microgrant program administered by the Citizens Committee for New York City (CitizensNYC). This program is designed to support small business owners located within New York City's five boroughs. Funded with leadership support from the Wells Fargo Foundation and Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, CitizensNYC aims to empower local entrepreneurs to positively impact their communities through small-scale business initiatives.
Each grant awards up to $5,000 and is intended to support projects that have a tangible and beneficial effect on the surrounding community. To qualify, businesses must have been operating for at least two years, be profit-generating, and employ ten or fewer individuals. Additionally, applicants must provide verifiable proof of business operation, such as bank statements, tax documentation, or POS terminal statements.
For the 2025 grant year, CitizensNYC is implementing a two-cycle application process to expedite funding and accommodate more applicants. The first cycle opens on November 4, 2024, with a deadline of February 7, 2025, and award decisions will be announced in May 2025. The second cycle begins on May 5, 2025, and concludes with a submission deadline on July 25, 2025. Awards for the second cycle will be announced in September 2025. Applicants who receive funding in the first cycle are ineligible for the second, while those not selected may reapply.
Applications are evaluated based on several criteria, including the demonstrated need for the grant, the relevance and urgency of the proposed initiative, and the expected impact on quality of life. This structured evaluation ensures that grants are awarded to businesses that show promise in enhancing their neighborhoods.
Support resources include information sessions and online office hours hosted by CitizensNYC. These provide prospective applicants with an opportunity to ask questions and refine their proposals. Applicants can also download the application form and view a sample application online. For additional inquiries, the organization can be reached at businessgrants@citizensnyc.org.
CitizensNYC is headquartered at 461 W 126th St #5W, New York, NY 10027. The grant initiative exemplifies its broader mission of grassroots empowerment and community betterment across the city's neighborhoods.
