April 2024

Spring is in the air and so is food and beverage entrepreneurship! Keeping a close eye on industry data shows us that a large majority of food service businesses permitted by the NYC Department of Health have been operating for less than 5 years and more than one-third have been open for less than 2 years.

Our team and colleagues here at the NYC Department of Small Business Services have amazing tools and resources to help your business open, operate, and expand.

Next month is NYC Small Business Month, so be on the lookout for upcoming announcements about all the May events SBS is planning. Our team is hoping to see many of you next month at SBS’s NYC Small Business Month Expo on May 29 – details coming soon!

Wishing everyone warm weather, clear skies, and business galore as we move into the Spring 2024 season.

The NYC Food and Beverage Industry Partnership Team at SBS

Steven Picker, Executive Director

Rosanne Martino, Director of Strategy & Initiatives

For up-to-date operational information, please view:

NYC Restaurant Resource Guide

Stay Up To Date

NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Outdoor Dining Unit is hosting a virtual open line to answer questions about the Dining Out NYC program in real-time!

SBS Hotline representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM to answer your questions. Call 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692).

NYC Funds Finder is NYC's first-ever online lending marketplace for small businesses.

The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has partnered with Next Street to make affordable financing more accessible to all NYC entrepreneurs, including women and minority-owned businesses.

Check out NYC Funds Finder to get:

• Custom lists of funding opportunities for your business through our Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) partners and other lenders
• Free one-on-one financial counseling
• Help with documentation preparation

New Grant Program to Help Small Businesses Shore Up Against Natural Disasters

The NYC Department of Small Business Services has launched the Business Preparedness and Resiliency Program (BPREP) Risk Assessment and Grant Program for eligible small business or commercial properties.

This program offers a free on-site, one-on-one risk assessment and $5,000 grant to buy recommended resiliency equipment, such as flood barriers, generators, and fireproof storage containers.

New Poster Requirement – by July 1, 2024, all NYC employers must post the required multilingual Know Your Rights poster where employees can easily see it.

Opportunities

The SBS Commercial Lease Assistance (CLA) program provides free legal services to help eligible businesses with the following:

• Signing a new commercial lease
• Amending, renewing, or terminating an existing commercial lease
• Addressing a commercial lease-related issue

NYS Restaurant Meal Program Pilot

The Restaurant Meal Program, which allows some SNAP recipients to use their benefits at participating restaurants, has been a success in California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Rhode Island, and is finally launching in New York State.

The program, introduced on a limited basis in Monroe County, is expanding to two ZIP Codes in Brooklyn (11201 and 11208), and soon will be open to restaurants in all NYS.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy invites you to participate in the “Advancing Disability Inclusion in Very Small Businesses” national online dialogue. Submit your ideas and insights on current policies and disability-inclusive practices to address the needs of small businesses that employ disabled workers or are owned by a disabled person.

Resources

Whether you are thinking of launching a food service business or have been operating for years – the Step-by-Step tool on our MyCity Business site will provide you with a customized list of requirements for your business.

MEND NYC (Mediating Establishment and Neighborhood Disputes) – MEND NYC is a free mediation and conflict resolution service to address quality-of-life issues that impact both New York City residents and hospitality businesses (bars, clubs, restaurants, or live music venues).

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