How to use this guide – think of it like a cookbook!
This guide is filled with easy-to-follow “recipes” for actionable ways a BID can work to improve equity within their district. The recipes selected were identified through outreach and consultation with the New York City Department of Small Business Services, BID leaders and practitioners. Each recipe is designed to offer BID practitioners a step-by-step set of actions, together with an understanding of key implementation details, including level of difficulty, magnitude of cost, lead time, necessary partners, and options for monitoring success.
The Recipes
Equity Basics for BIDs
Equitable outcomes often begin with taking a look at who controls decision and resource allocation in the following areas:
- At the decision-making table.
BID Board. By New York State law, the majority of seats on a BID board must be reserved for property owner representatives, who may not reflect the diversity of the district. Together with the balance of board members, who may include commercial tenants, city representatives and residents, BIDs may explore ways to diversify their board leadership.
BID Staff. BID staff are often the first line of engagement with businesses. Bilingual or culturally competent staff can help encourage diverse business participation from marginalized communities.
Community and business owner participation and engagement. BIDs are accountable to residents, visitors and employees who experience the district as consumers. In many cases, these individuals have a limited formal role in BID decision making. BIDs can find ways to encourage their insight and participation to understand and support businesses in meeting their needs.
- In the distribution and application of resources and services.
Program participation. BIDs can assess and track the distribution of resources, tools and technical assistance across business types, diverse ownership models and among certified minority and women owned businesses (MWBEs).
Procurement and workforce diversity. BIDs can explore ways to help local businesses improve workforce diversity through engagement with workforce training providers or support for job fairs.
- In the spaces and places that people inhabit.
Public spaces. Public gathering spaces, streets and sides are all opportunities for BIDs to review the accessibility of public spaces to people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
-
Here are some useful links to funding and grant opportunities offered by the government at the city, state, and federal levels. These resources can provide financial and economic assistance to small businesses:
- Contract Financing Loan Fund: Loans of up to $1,000,000 at an annual interest rate of up to 3% are available to eligible businesses. Closing fees apply. To be eligible to apply for a loan, you must:
- Have an operating business
- Be applying for financing as a prime or subcontractor to use toward a contract with a City agency or City-funded entity
New York State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI): Managed by the U.S. Department of Treasury, SSBCI provides funds to support programs for small businesses, including socially and economically disadvantaged individual (SEDI) owned businesses and very small businesses (VSB), to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 and allow them an opportunity to succeed in the post-pandemic economy. With this funding, Empire State Development (ESD) has developed a suite of capital access and equity programs to help New York State small businesses recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 and allow them the opportunity to succeed
Case Study
![Accompany Capital](https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/300/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=f643dd0d85c115514ff9b90a2cdf46593f1de4fcb18489b1300986506ee8a77b 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/600/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=76b43d6f7b51602ef29f2ec654a881edd07d753c411077f22fb4a187629ff9bf 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/900/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=238bcc22efcd462f751e99d34b749ac4c5d86e0d915c0b8bb9625add40d01bb5 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1200/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=c2176f26ec10dfae5afcda851070e8d351d37e6b0d46894d8837a91e9b4df4c5 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1500/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=53b94e8861c6dc39b1f935874fc1064cbed0eb2b1754e3888f95a68236fbc8e8 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1800/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=8cf1a28a527e8a44db30c3b5f8c91c3ee08b07354798dab2e3d3cdf504133df0 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2100/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=b34736351a21f6a4a3fdc1e087bfff8f37d1b398b082e519d960db1935a9f1fc 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2400/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=e80d6a810e2eece33941ec0f0bddb1429949238cec7036086c82824ce3768974 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2700/quality:80/work/AccompanyCapital.jpg?bossToken=ca71187053b992604c3b680a8d4f16d32d2d17b7b840544e6d996ee4478d9118 1543w)
Accompany Capital is a non-profit financial institution with offices in Manhattan and Jackson Heights, Queens, that provides small business loans, training in business fundamentals and credit building, marketing, and technology to entrepreneurs with an emphasis on new immigrants, refugees, and woman entrepreneurs. In 2022 alone they offered over 30 online workshops on topics such as QuickBooks, Business Taxes and Digital Marketing. Pre-COVID, the 82nd Street BID and Accompany Capital had begun working together, but the relationship flourished during COVID, when Accompany Capital and The 82nd Street BID worked closely to distribute donations and grants worth over $20 million dollars to small businesses within the district.
![](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/rpa-org/work/82newsletter.png)
![](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/rpa-org/work/82newsletter3.png)
Website – integrate translation plugins to your BID’s website for key languages in your community. For example, Chinatown BID offers English, Chinese Traditional, and Chinese Simplified translation plug-ins on their site.
![Sunnyside BID Web](https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/300/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=bdc8399b551187d0287e4d3d8ab588aa2fa0039c91ecd8dd3497a9633c64a08d 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/600/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=6f07866727d9f9ea4f8d6f09e4694f98a7773b4bf14fd0c92209f17b7f41d589 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/900/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=fb1e13008e8491e6b255cb6efb1cd78017944a65a96ae503c7e890ac69cbc7d7 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1200/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=0ec5a94cc4f1918a360170b2d06becf8f27e270a3b5c28befe26b8d65ff29bd0 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1500/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=767b49d7450c2f79a1b88996b21186650d9b794050f17ca84cd3b44fa6cbc8ab 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1800/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=f300b2009fba9e66faf1f189cd3c3ea98d453857e32c7632aa28fe34e0755366 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2100/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=142b11d94ee7f3ec8fd06c0b3f9868d8c52b05b16df2b951bf9df7181f066ed9 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2400/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=653ceb0ab168176c0e15394f5b3d7a1f9d1f9c7257138c789a53eaf890f90cde 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2700/quality:80/work/SunnysideBIDWeb.png?bossToken=13484a8bfb17bcef9560d6574e2468d3590c308beabd77211d538f5980003955 1543w)
Social Media – Utilize the photo carousel feature to share your post in multiple languages. For example, Flushing BID sharing on Instagram their March Shopping Madness in English and Chinese.
![Flushing BID](https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/300/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=c68e9e218df1f4b773acbf2d8c6d0497757e5cfb56bcf9618481b28fb4f2f162 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/600/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=8bf9887aaa5f2aec0efc260ad723490be3b1eebcc632ddcb4ef547b4d44a93ff 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/900/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=d99a1aceff4e15892816fbe0bcc2808fcd3cf0b72b0b91d1fd8e149c22bfc82b 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1200/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=6f19de26f07d043392076798ed57ca44f238aa8b29f2a8bd65d46a82f8147b93 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1500/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=76b99f91094b60b0b9403692405084f50b0e039d48770892cfb4ab68e7ad2b19 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1800/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=db4298760fabd01bb4d1ee77215d9ecda1323001b77b435496dcdae8b4193b18 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2100/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=d90472cdfc6224ccf363b92826eb89b4c0e3166988376e26b546fbf73ae82ed6 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2400/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=224714cc40184ff097fd686f57c41aaabf7aa8ffe4bc03aa36ba4c45adb78adf 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2700/quality:80/work/Flushing-BID.png?bossToken=7796ffb23078cbba38ef126224b8d6dbda00f3919c860dcd522bc0735326c1e5 1543w)
![Flushing Bid 2](https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/300/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=3d684468f5224d9ba76b32041ff1e3025e8e8b6d62bcd9cd79c233603ed4926c 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/600/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=dfeba64df99ed25ba5fffda3a2bda7bbfa4c3f4acd863e613d3c8fc4bf484a91 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/900/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=354aa86b62621430f3279134b97b454a95d7199d4697fa505d72ffec39e60118 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1200/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=318fd9dd7cb1ab6c83c78eb8b7db93a6c7a5447c3ff3c3203d474f0c1163a4ea 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1500/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=e2598b960f99c6042c346ea0d2d4ac702e21b21f00597f1ae24c4d27ecff6d17 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1800/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=e48c65e36a6bccd5774b63cf9f86acb1beda147a5047cc12aba69cca16d809a2 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2100/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=596393dc1950fb0fb4e8ff0fdc92f5488b9e825aa49d5480f9722b708f932520 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2400/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=20b14201fd421309f6f58d4ced82d4dcebc92b56be6cad336a0eab2e95236ec5 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2700/quality:80/work/Flushing-Bid-2.png?bossToken=0ccf085297e75b400f3dbeba2a72c4b8e1066d988e4e7f979b5560dd1c9bbb97 1543w)
WhatsApp (Email/Social Media/Website Alternatives) – Everyone gets their information differently. Media consumption/information access preferences vary across generations, cultural groups, and income. It is important to remember that not everyone uses email or social media. There may be other methods of communication that could reach people within your community. WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging system; it does not require a phone plan, but uses the internet to send texts, making it more financially accessible and easier to communicate with people in different countries. The WhatsApp’s Community feature can be a useful tool for BIDs to use to reach WhatsApp users in their district. The Community feature can function as a listserv for sharing important information. WhatsApp also has translation features to help with language accessibility. WhatsApp has several applications that can support business owners in advertising their businesses and increasing the outreach to new potential customers. These tools can be used by BIDs to engage with their community and promote local businesses as well as community events. Other than the WhatsApp Communities feature, WhatsApp also offers WhatsApp Business. A tutorial on WhatsApp Business can be found in this link. Further options for using WhatApp can also be by connecting your Facebook and Instagram accounts to a WhatsApp account.
Offer Bilingual Entrepreneurship Support Programs and Resources. This can be done with the help of the City and local anchor institutions or cultural centers. Some examples include:
Business Development Workshops covering various topics that include business plan development, business law, insurance, marketing, and business banking among others.
Resources on the importance of financial management and access to financing
Assistance in bilingual marketing efforts for communications such as storefront signage and menus. This helps support non-native English-speaking business owners demonstrate their offerings to customers who do not speak their native language.
Case Study
Acknowledgements
Authored by
-
Larisa Ortiz
Streetsense, Managing Director, Public Non Profit Solutions
-
Emily Morin
Streetsense, Research Analyst
This checklist and the BID Toolkits were developed thanks to generous support from the NYC Department of Small Business Services and The Association for a Better New York (ABNY).
Funded By
![](https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/300/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=bf701c4c32803978de25679e007da7b03ed973fb046ff89673bbe85e289a16a6 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/600/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=a8b0c6084e7fe6d9e665bd82f91ce2218c187a35f6389e34c20b7c2d69d55276 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/900/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=eaad1697f901a7f92497f77ef69276f6bca5c9cb0a94dd96382fe79b08cfb541 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1200/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=2d41080984b6d38a74c7d51e7f5365c11c14e68e1a33e328b21000938206b2ee 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1500/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=6f7b7db2ab5f455171efaa3adeefb30eb00c74f67ca6c4578f7fccbc4d77c75b 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1800/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=c51f78cf310c01a3a79ee792b1e693e7bc8da9ea9fb8ae4f91ae6178402eaa5e 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2100/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=48faf804320db2224ff1dc83c3f4b617eb5e2757c3459598953193f9e1996b48 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2400/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=72e5a2fad872f394bf5cdd0c67425dbf69b43475eb7296b8988a54fd364cf74a 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2700/quality:80/logos/SBS-Logo1.png?bossToken=67c08b2d57e788f09d2f9f823edc92ca0e361392a26696c4ca89c1ba2d72522a 1543w)
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Produced With
![](https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/300/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=6859088a2155acd88b7aa07e99085f183bde04e79dde05868c573396752522b6 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/600/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=e70696433106fb069a12fca7a4e0d9db715aceae090888da99f2816b6aaab741 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/900/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=ccad3c11481a22b835a18e0b0bbee31685d91105ad87b28e283d093a2a44764d 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1200/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=bb0dc5f2a03094ce072a6fae4504822e81e0c3935bcf59a5aefb3cb4333abc06 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1500/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=195449e4969b35d03f739ff580f86b29557f200c457cc79338094f0684e5e14e 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1800/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=3ea1dc9124c21f1b90ff9daa6c2ad55f78a180ab30bd5c8cb4bfa2265e645209 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2100/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=2c712a207f9996c8e7c8b9a7a69436466f12a0431361c26def3e6378f9b12041 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2400/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=71564bb05fd38fc6b1a8289bb410f1c9e09a7558cc70ee99f1571acf0bed4059 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2700/quality:80/logos/Streetsense_Logo_Primary1.png?bossToken=d87de5175335a89909649cbcfa1240062817099ecb801b7489977747d2a85d66 1543w)
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