City To Award Jamaica Business Owners Up To $20K For Renovations

JAMAICA, QUEENS — The city is giving small business owners in downtown Jamaica up to $20,000 to renovate their storefronts.

NYC Small Business Services is now accepting applications for its Downtown Jamaica Storefront Improvement Program, which reimburses local business owners for up to 75 percent of the cost of exterior renovation projects.

Grants will be capped at $20,000 per building.

The agency will prioritize buildings on Jamaica Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard, Hillside Avenue and Liberty Avenue when choosing grant recipients. They agency will also prioritize storefronts in poor condition or a state of disrepair

Eligible renovations include:

• Façade restoration and cornice repair
• Masonry work and brick pointing
• New signage and awning
• Installation of open-grill security gates
• Storefront framing & glass replacement
• Exterior lighting installation
• Exterior painting
• Door repair/replacement
• Other approved exterior improvements

Grant applicants must be able to pay up front for their project costs. Designs should "respect

the history and character of the neighborhood," according to the program's description.

Business owners must have at least three years left on their lease and employ fewer than 100 people to be eligible for a grant. Owners of mixed-use and commercial buildings can also apply.

Churches, schools, colleges, universities, government buildings and non-profit offices are not eligible for the grants.

To apply, submit a completed application form to storefronts@sbs.nyc.gov by July 11, 2019.Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submissions are encouraged.

Winners will be notified three to four weeks after submitting an application.