Sunnyside Small Busi­nesses Receive Grant Money for Im­prove­ments

Small businesses in Sunnyside will gain more exposure thanks to a grant from the city. 

Sunnyside Shines is a business improvement district that overseas the maintainence of the neighborhood.  It's one of four community organizations in the borough to receive $30 thousand worth of grant money as a part of the "Avenue NYC" Initiative. 

The initiative invests in community-based organizations that help preserve small businesses. 

The money from the grant will go towards promoting small businesses in Sunnyside that may have gone unnoticed by residents. 

"Without small businesses, I don't think that Sunnyside would be the community that it is," Keshia Salves, owner of KMIA Salon said. "And with the grant, it kind of gives us the opportunity to meet more people and have them come visit small businesses like ours." 

"It's really helped our outreach to to the neighborhood locals which is really who we are after," Paul Longo, owner of Ida's Nearabout said.

A part of the money will also be used to advance the Shop Sunnyside Card program which gives members discounts to more than 30 neighborhood businesses.