Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS) have announced over $8.4 million in funding for dozens of community-based organizations across the city to increase foot traffic and help support small businesses throughout the five boroughs, including $1.5 million in funding for 17 different organizations in Queens.

Mamdani and SBS Commissioner Kenny Minaya announced the move Monday afternoon, stating that the grants would help uplift small businesses and create cleaner, more vibrant neighborhoods.

The investment, which marks one of the largest single releases of small business grants in SBS history, will help support public art, street cleaning and lighting and wayfinding infrastructure. It also aims to boost commercial district marketing campaigns, relationship-building among small businesses and other neighborhood improvements.

Minaya hosted a month-long, five-borough tour to announce the funding, including a stop in Downtown Jamaica on Aug. 6 to announce the Queens grants.

The funding will be spread throughout the borough, including a combined $279,800 in Merchant Organizing Grants for BlaQue Community Cares in Rosedale, the Chhaya Community Development Corporation in Richmond Hill and the Rockaway Civic Association.

The initiative will also provide a combined $225,000 in Business Improvement District (BID) Development Grants for the Downtown Jamaica BID, Sunnyside Shines and the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce, while the Long Island City Partnership will receive a $100,000 Strategic Impact Grant to fund a new commercial district needs assessment.

The Downtown Jamaica BID is also set to receive a $50,000 public realm grant for neighborhood beautification, including public art, creative lighting projects and wayfinding, while a combined $560,000 Small BID Support grant will help organizations including the 180th Street BID in Jamaica, the Bayside Village BID, the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub BID and the Myrtle Avenue BID in Ridgewood address issues such as resource access and equity.

Astoria’s Steinway Street BID, Sunnyside Shines, the Gateway JFK BID and the Woodhaven BID will also receive funding under the Small BID Support grant.

The city has also awarded a combined $300,000 to Queens EDC in East Elmhurst, the Queens County Chamber of Commerce Foundation in College Point and BHALO in Jamaica as part of multi-year Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grants.

The grants will be used to carry out programs targeting commercial districts in low- and moderate-income communities. They will provide direct funding for program managers, one-on-one guidance on how to complete a commercial district needs assessment and in-depth group trainings.

Mamdani said the citywide initiative will help keep sidewalks clean as well as ensure that public spaces remain bright and small businesses have the resources they need to succeed.

Last month, the mayor launched the “OPEN for Small Business” reform package, aiming to make it easier and cheaper to open a small business in the city. However, he said Monday that it was not enough to simply make it easier to open a business and insisted that the city must do more to make small businesses easier to visit.

“Our commitment to small businesses means not only cutting red tape and reducing fines, but investing in the neighborhoods surrounding bodegas, bookshops and restaurants,” Mamdani said in a statement.

Minaya, meanwhile, described the grants as “direct investments” in the people and organizations who understand the neighborhoods they represent, adding that the initiative is an investment in Queens’ Main Street economy.

“Queens is the world’s borough, and the diversity of its people and commercial corridors fuel the small businesses that call it home,” Minaya said in a statement. “These grants will fund additional sanitation services, public art, wayfinding and more; and will make New York City into an even more prosperous and joyous place for everyone.”

He added that the grants will ensure Queens remains “the eclectic, vibrant place it is through projects that will beautify and improve all aspects of commercial life.”

Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su described small business as the heartbeat of the city’s economy and the foundation of lively communities. She said the grants will help encourage people to visit the neighborhoods and corridors where small businesses are located.

“That’s why this administration is investing not only in the businesses themselves, but in the commercial corridors and neighborhoods where they live,” Su said in a statement. “These grants will make our communities more welcoming, strengthen local economies and help small businesses create good-paying jobs.”