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Storefront Resurgence Project

The Storefront Resurgence Project is designed to drive foot traffic to commercial corridors throughout Manhattan, reduce prolonged storefront vacancies, and support the emergence of a next generation of local “brick-and-mortar” businesses that are innovative and will help New York City attract and retain residents, workers and tourists alike.

Led by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, the Storefront Resurgence Project will bring much-needed stability to Manhattan’s commercial corridors in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis and help to put the storefront businesses of tomorrow on a path to success. These efforts will generate immense economic multipliers for local communities and the city as a whole.

This project is supported through Community Project Funding secured by former Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and is administered by the US Small Business Administration. In addition, funding for outreach and technical assistance is provided by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the New York City Council which is being administered by the New York City Small Business Services Department.

Project components include:

  • Outreach and technical assistance -The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce has three full-time Business Resource Specialists and one Technical Support Specialist on staff who go “door-to-door,” providing free guidance and connections to resources in business strategy, technology, real estate, legal and accounting services, procurement opportunities, marketing, sources of loans and grants, and more. The Chamber has reached more than 13,000 businesses since October 2020; the vast majority have been women-, minority- and immigrant-owned storefront businesses.

  • Summit on the Future of NYC's Storefronts - The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce convened a half-day summit on February 28, 2024 to explore the needs of storefront businesses as well as solutions to avoid the San Francisco-style “doom loop” which has decimated that city’s downtown retail market. Video of the day can be found here.

  • Storefront Business Coalition - The Chamber is organizing storefront merchants throughout Manhattan to help address their collective needs, share resources and advocate for measures that will increase foot traffic to their commercial corridors.

  • Retail Storefront Accelerator - This program is designed to empower, connect, and accelerate entrepreneurs, providing them with the necessary resources and guidance to successfully launch and maintain a sustainable storefront business in the competitive landscape of Manhattan. Applications are being accepted now.
storefront resurgence project