Storefront Startup Program to Activate Vacant Storefronts

This year the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) awarded a Citywide Strategic Impact Grant to ChaShaMa, an arts and cultural organization, for a program designed to activate vacant commercial space with entrepreneurs in need, called Storefront Startup. The goal of this new program is to enliven commercial corridors and help micro-businesses, while working with local organizations to implement their own vacancy reduction programs.

Activating storefronts will help restore financial stability, generate foot traffic, create aesthetically pleasing spaces for the streetscape, and bring positivity into neighborhoods during critical times of recovery. ChaShaMa is looking for property owners and co-operatives to partner with for even more pop-up locations to activate. Benefits to property owners who participate in the Storefront Startup Program include: dealing with an intermediary that has solid understanding of property management and de-risks short-term ventures for the property owner; insurance coverage; attracting leasing opportunities with engagement marketing; positive press coverage; and more. Click here to view the Storefront Startup Program presentation.

ChaShaMa is an organization already well-known to many property owners across the city from previous storefront activation initiatives involving the arts. Please reach out to Monica or Ralph at the BID (mblum@lincolnsquarebid.org or rmemoli@lincolnsquarebid.org) to get connected with ChaShaMa or contact Anita Durst from ChaShaMa directly at anita@chashama.org to discuss opportunities and proposals.

Storefront Startup is offering free pop-up storefronts to qualifying small businesses while covering utility payments and assisting with marketing and promotion. Apply for the program by clicking here—placements began in April and will continue through July. All New York City entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply, but priority will be given to those from priority neighborhoods or businesses that are majority-owned by women or minority persons. Businesses selected to participate will have access to a storefront for up to a three-month period. You can read more about the program’s FAQs here.

Photo credit: ChaShaMa