New York City is buzzing with fresh creative energy thanks to a major new initiative. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), has announced over $8.4 million in grants designed to invigorate community-based organizations throughout the city’s five boroughs.
This substantial financial injection, comprising nearly 90 individual disbursements, marks one of the largest single releases of small business grants in the SBS’s history. The funds are earmarked to breathe new life into small businesses and commercial corridors by boosting foot traffic, fostering cleaner neighborhoods, and commissioning public art and arts programming. Recipient organizations can utilize the funds for a broad range of purposes, including project expenses, marketing costs, programming materials, space rentals, and event expenditures.
The borough of Brooklyn emerged as the top recipient, securing approximately $2.77 million distributed through 32 grants. Other boroughs also received significant allocations: the Bronx received $1.55 million across 17 grants, Manhattan $1.53 million across 14 grants, and Queens $1.51 million through 19 grants. Staten Island received $550,000, allocated to 7 organizations, and an additional $500,000 was disbursed to seven organizations operating citywide. Notable beneficiaries include the Red Hook Art Project, Project for Public Spaces, Fourth Arts Block, and Art on the Ave.
Jean Cooney, head of the arts nonprofit Creative Time, characterized the announcement as a “pivotal moment for our city and for public art.” This grant program is a key piece of the Mamdani administration’s larger strategy to support small businesses, building on existing initiatives such as the ‘OPEN for Small Business’ program and ongoing efforts to reduce regulatory burdens.
This focus on the arts and local commerce aligns with recent significant investments. The Mamdani administration’s Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2027, released in May 2026, included a $10 million baseline investment for the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and an additional $122 million designated for hiring 1,000 new teachers, including arts educators. In August 2026, the city council approved over $320 million in funding for the DCLA and other arts institutions, establishing a new stabilization fund—a record level of funding for the arts in New York City.