The New York City Department of Sanitation, in partnership with the Department of Small Business Services, launched grant applications for business and community groups seeking to pioneer innovative waste management initiatives in the five boroughs.
At least five grants of up to $20,000 will be made available to business improvement districts (BIDs) and community-based development organizations (CBDOs) for projects that help improve waste management operations and street cleanliness in business districts.
Sample projects could include new litter baskets, compactors, enclosures, containers, organics collection, and other waste management equipment and infrastructure. Rooted in the Department of Sanitation’s commitment to equitable waste management, the goals of this project include increasing waste diversion, and reducing vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste collection.
“As part of our mission to keep streets clean and safe in every neighborhood across the five boroughs, New York’s Strongest are seeking to innovate and reimagine refuse pickup in ways that improve the public realm and create more vibrant commercial districts,” said Edward Grayson, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation. “With the help of community-based partners in the business and non-profit sectors, we can reduce the presence of refuse on our sidewalks and make our streets more inviting for all who use them.”
The submission must include a submission portfolio that describes the proposed project, the planned implementation timeline, how it would improve waste management in the business district, proposed location(s) or service area(s), and how the BID/CBDO would evaluate the success of the pilot. The BID/CBDO must identify a staff member who will be responsible for overseeing the project. In addition, an itemized breakdown of requested grant funding is required, and the portfolio must include a demonstration of need.
Proposals will be reviewed by representatives from DSNY and SBS, which will rate all responsive submissions based on the following criteria:
•Potential to improve waste management practices, cleanliness, and/or quality of life
•Demonstration of need and/or equity
•Capacity to execute on the project
If a grantee is interested to expand, continue or otherwise improve their project, there will be opportunity to receive a second round of grant funding, up to an additional $20,000. This additional funding is made available through SBS’s Neighborhood Challenge program to help spur innovative thinking and catalytic projects from local organizations that generate impact for their commercial districts. Receipt of this funding would be dependent on the success of the initial pilot, as measured by the evaluation proposed in the Submission Portfolio. In the case where a pilot project is unsuccessful, additional funding would be dependent on improvements proposed by the grantee that DSNY and SBS determine to increase the likelihood of success.
Published in the May 2022 Edition