By Bill Parry
Urban Upbound, a Long Island City-based nonprofit development corporation, will receive a $100,000 grant from the city Department of Small Business Services.
The group formerly known as East River Development Alliance is one of six winners in the citywide Neighborhood Challenge, and it will help assist the 3,000 residents of the Astoria Houses with employment and financial and community resources.
Launched in September 2013, the Neighborhood Challenge is a competitive grant initiative designed to encourage business improvement districts, local development corporations and merchants associations to find innovative ways to improve services, generate economic activity and attract more jobs and investment to their districts.
“BIDs throughout the five boroughs have helped strengthen and revitalize neighborhoods,” Deputy Mayor Robert Steel said. “The winners of Neighborhood Challenge have proposed innovative programs and I look forward to seeing the difference they will make along their commercial corridors.”
Small Business Services Commissioner Robert Walsh said, “The Neighborhood Challenge program encourages these organizations to keep up the momentum with innovative and creative projects.”
Bishop Mitchell Taylor, the Urban Upbound executive director accepted the award. His organization will use the grant money to launch new businesses and employ residents of the Astoria Houses. It also plans to identify local entrepreneurs and capital investors to help launch new locally-grown business.
The winners were selected by a committee made up of business experts, including Maria Torres-Springer, the co-founder and chief operating officer of Friends of the Highline.
In 2012, the city launched BID Challenge and received 37 project proposals from the 68 BIDs around the five boroughs. Seven won grants of $75,000 for projects like storefront improvements, plaza activations and public art installations. Neighborhood Challenge expanded this year to include larger grants and local development organizations.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
