NYC’s 76 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) invested more than $170 million in New York City neighborhoods during fiscal year (FY) 2020, boosting approximately 93,000 businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In FY20, BIDs:
- Collected more than 3.4 million trash bags, removed 274,000 instances of graffiti, and employed 650 sanitation workers.
- Held more than 5,000 public events, pivoting many programs to virtual settings after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sponsored 147 public art installations, investing more than $13 million in streetscape and beautification efforts.
Every day, Business Improvement Districts deliver critical services that help to build a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant city,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives J. Philip Thompson.
In 2020, NYC was the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis, triggering an immediate city-wide shutdown to prioritize the health and safety of all New Yorkers. This led to an inevitable economic crisis, and the impact continues to be devastating to our smallest businesses. Despite these challenges, BIDs have played a pivotal role as neighborhood champions, business advisors, and government liaisons, delivering supplemental services that revitalize COVID-impacted neighborhoods and foster vibrant commercial corridors.