As Earth Week shines a spotlight on environmental awareness, the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), in partnership with the New York City Emergency Management Department (NYCEM), is stepping up efforts to prepare the city’s small businesses for the growing threats of climate change.

Through its Business Preparedness and Resiliency Program (BPREP), SBS is offering small business owners free access to critical tools and support services, including risk assessments, informative webinars, and grants, all aimed at building long-term resilience against natural disasters.

“With the effects of climate change being felt in every corner of the city, it pays for small businesses to be prepared,” said SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross.

“This Earth Week, I invite every small business owner in the city to use SBS’s free risk assessment tool and learn about building a more resilient enterprise. Together, we can forge a stronger, sustainable New York City and adapt to this new normal.”

NYCEM is also lending its full support, reinforcing the importance of preparedness for all businesses.

“Emergencies affect every neighborhood and every sector of our city, including the small businesses that keep New York running,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “Preparedness is public safety, and through efforts like BPREP, SBS is helping businesses take proactive steps to protect their people and operations. NYC Emergency Management is proud to support this work through resources like the ReadyNY for Business guide, our website resources, and our ongoing collaboration to strengthen resilience across the five boroughs.”

Among the highlights of BPREP is a grant program for businesses located in flood-prone areas. Eligible businesses may receive up to $5,000 for resiliency upgrades like generators, sump pumps, flood barriers, and weatherproof storage solutions. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with eligibility determined by location within a flood-risk zone, operational history, annual revenue, and prior grant activity.

The program is already making a difference for business owners like Peter Miller, owner of Freebird Books in Brooklyn.

“For us at Freebird Books, which is along a part of the waterfront with a precarious flooding record, the SBS BPREP grant has given us a sense of relief and a leg up on mitigating future Sandys,” Miller said. “Our basement is already in a stronger position to better withstand bad weather fronts, and we were able to replace many materials that were moldy or beyond repair. More importantly, we were able to purchase equipment we would have otherwise not had the resources to bring in as a small business, such as a quality dehumidifier, sump pump, and a backup generator.”

He added: “If this program hadn’t existed, we would not have been able to undertake other efforts to upgrade our space for purposes beyond the stated mission of the grant: in other words, the $5,000 helped kickstart improving the overall environmental quality of our storefront.”

Small business owners are encouraged to explore the program on the MyCity Business website and sign up for upcoming SBS webinars to take advantage of these vital, free resources.

Commissioner Gross is available this week to speak on how the city is helping local enterprises thrive in a changing climate.