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Citizens Chinatown Renewal Fund Announces 22 Winners

On May 18th, 2022, Citizens Bank and LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) NYC announced a new partnership with Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) and Renaissance Economic Development Corporations (EDC) that would aim to revitalize the Chinatown community. Dubbed the “Citizens Chinatown Renewal Fund,” the program pledged to provide $350,000 in grant support for minority-owned businesses in Chinatown. Additionally, Citizens announced their continued support for the Chinatown Night Market through 2022.

On December 7th, 2022, eight months after the initial announcement, Citizens and LISC NY gathered community members and press once again. This time, it was to announce the 22 minority-owned small business recipients of the “Citizens Chinatown Renewal Fund.”

Details of the Citizens Chinatown Renewal Fund

More than 115 small business owners applied for the grant, which was made accessible to all via a sweepstakes lottery.

In order to apply, minority-owned businesses were required to have a storefront location within the boundaries of Chinatown, a current active lease with a minimum 3-year term remaining, have operated in Chinatown for a minimum of 1-year, and to show a maximum of $500,000 in sales on the most recent tax return. Business owners also were required to provide a photo ID.

All finalists received hands-on, in-person technical support from Renaissance Economic Development Corporation (EDC) staff to submit their application materials. This outreach was essential, as it helped get the resources to those who need it most, and might not know how to access them. In Renaissance, the Renewal Fund had a community-based partner who could help get the word out.

Of the businesses that applied, 75% were run by immigrants who speak limited English. 22 businesses were selected as grant recipients, 17 of which were owned by low-income individuals. At $10,000 each, these grants will help retain an average of four full-time employees, with 88 jobs held by minority, immigrant, and/or low- and moderate- income community residents.

“Entrepreneurship is a key path to closing the racial wealth gap…” said Valerie White, Senior Executive Director of LISC NY “…these meaningful grants will help ensure the stability and long-term vitality of deserving small businesses.”

Eva Neubauer Alligood, Senior Director of Partnerships and Programs for LISC speaking at press conference on Dec. 7, 2022. Photo credit: Cindy Trinh

Continuation of Chinatown Nights

Chinatown Nights was launched in the summer of 2021 by Think!Chinatown, a not-for-profit, place-based organization dedicated to Manhattan Chinatown, working at the intersection of storytelling, arts, and neighborhood engagement.Think!Chinatown conceived Chinatown Nights as a solution for the struggling community, which had been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In its first year, the initiative’s goal was to enliven the community, drive business, and make the streets feel safer at night – residents had reported a fear of being out after dark because no one else was.

In its second year, Chinatown Nights found a sponsor in Citizens. The sponsorship enabled the event to expand into the Chinatown Night Market, located at Forsyth Plaza. Designed to provide support to small micro-immigrant / AAPI owned businesses, the event has quickly proved to offer that and beyond, turning an empty plaza into a culturally relevant space where the community can come together.

According to Amy Chin, President of the Board of Think!Chinatown, the Night Market – fueled by “volunteers, donations, and good will” –  brought thousands of people into the neighborhood. The Night Market has closed for the season, but it’s not the end of the event: Citizens has re-upped their sponsorship for the next year. The next season of Chinatown Nights will start in May 2023.

Amy Chin, President of the Board of Think!Chinatown. Photo credit: Cindy Trinh

When asked what Citizens’ metric for success of the market was, Citizens Bank Vice President of Partnerships & Programs Amie Kershaw said, “I went to the night market in July and it was wall-to-wall people. It was the definition of a community event.” Seeing the positive impact on Chinatown was all she, and Citizens, needed to determine it a meaningful investment. “This is where we want to be, bringing everyone together. That, from a Citizens perspective, is how we want to show up as a community.”

 

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Chinatown Renewal Fund Grant Recipients

With some winners in attendance, the press conference closed with the announcement of the 22 recipients of the Citizens Chinatown Renewal Fund. As the list was read, the joy in the room was palpable, a celebration of community, culture, and hope.

The businesses receiving grants cover every industry, from food to retail to personal care services. The full list can be found at the bottom of this article.

Betty Chung, the owner of Simple Eldridge Inc. (109 Eldridge St.), spoke on the significance of these grants. For many small businesses that missed out on PPP loans due to language barriers and the sheer amount of work required, no-strings-attached grants such as these are not only unheard of, but also life changing. Simple Eldridge plans to pay it forward and use the boost as a way to give back to the community.

Betty Chung speaking on the significance of the grants and how they will benefit the community. Photo credit: Cindy Trinh

According to Chung, the pandemic has made it hard to hire chefs. “People have switched jobs or left Manhattan and they’re reluctant to take the subway, so businesses are closing because they don’t have staff.” Simple Eldridge looks to provide a solution through their bottled sauces, which can be sold to restaurant owners and eliminate some heavy lifting usually required in a kitchen. The sauces are “easy to use and versatile,” allowing restaurants to “control consistency and quality of food.”

For both business owners and community members, this money is empowering. In line with Citizens’ approach to the Chinatown Night Market, the primary goal of the grants is to help businesses with no strings attached.

The best way to support the recipients of these grants is to visit and support the businesses. Go enjoy some excellent food, try a delicious delicacy from a bakery, get some laundry or printing done in the neighborhood.

Ming’s Caffe, located at 28 Canal Street, has some of the best dumplings in the area. Warm, flavorful, and fresh, they were a perfect meal on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. It was a literal treat to support a business such as Ming’s Caffe. Photo credit: Emily Bice

List of Grant Recipients for the Chinatown Renewal Fund

28 Ming’s Caffe

  • Address: 28 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 6-9 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

28 Vegetarian Dim Sum Restaurant Inc.

  • Address: 24 Pell St #1, New York, 10013
  • Opened: 10-15 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

46 Mott Street Bakery

  • Address: 46 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

American Kimberly International Group

  • Address: 28 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 6-9 years
  • Business Type: Personal care services (including salons)

Audrey Bakery & Café II Inc

  • Address: 12 Chatham Square, New York, NY 10038
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

AvantGarde Fusion

  • Address: 167 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: Opened 1-2 years
  • Business Type: Clothing / Apparel Store

Café Round K

  • Address: 78 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 1-2 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

City Street Bakery Corp

  • Address: 85A Bayard Street, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 6-9 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

Double Crispy Bakery 1

  • Address: 230 Grand St, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

ESK Laundromat Inc.

  • Address: 209 Madison St, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 6-9 years
  • Business Type: Dry cleaning and laundry services

Golden Day Business Inc.

  • Address: 90 Bowery St, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 1-2 years
  • Business Type: Legal Services

Golden Steamer Inc.

  • Address: 143A Mott St, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 10-15 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

High Cut Beauty Salon

  • Address: 83 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 15 years or more
  • Business Type: Personal care services (including salons)

Jin’s Printing

  • Address: 114 Madison St, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: other

King Jade Garden Inc.

  • Address: 141 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

Ludlow Laundry Inc.

  • Address: 67 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Dry cleaning and laundry services

Madison Supreme Laundromat

  • Address: 80 Madison St, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Dry cleaning and laundry services

Make It One Inc.

  • Address: 150 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

New Cameron Bakery

  • Address: 242 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

New China Beauty Salon Inc.

  • Address: 15 Doyers St # C, New York, NY 10013
  • Opened: 6-9 years
  • Business Type: Other

Simple Eldridge Inc.

  • Address: 109 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 6-9 years
  • Business Type: Restaurant or Other Eating Place

YongFeng Chen

  • Address: 118A Madison St, New York, NY 10002
  • Opened: 3-5 years
  • Business Type: Other

Emily Bice is a New York based writer born in Michigan, but with family in Canada - so on paper she’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet. Emily graduated from The University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. She has worked as an olive oil farmer, press correspondent at Cannes, and in television, but her favorite job is writer. Playwriting credits include before the flood (The Chain Theatre, NYC), Purgatory (developmental workshop, Ann Arbor, MI), See You In A Few (one act, the thing theatre company, Zoom). Check out more of her work at emilyabice.com!

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