NEW YORK — The New York City Department of Small Business Services is seeking proposals from community organizations to design and launch a pilot program to support the city’s diverse street vendor workforce. The initiative, announced on December 19, 2025, marks the first time the agency will use the city’s new Challenge-Based Procurement model to address longstanding issues facing vendors across the five boroughs.
The program, titled “Venture Forward,” will fund innovative approaches to help vendors navigate complex regulations, connect with city resources, and strengthen their economic stability. SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross said the initiative reflects the agency’s commitment to serving all types of entrepreneurs, including those who operate on sidewalks, plazas, and commercial corridors.
“SBS exists to serve all entrepreneurs and small businesses in our city, and that includes individuals who sell products and expressive materials publicly and imbue our city streets with the energy and dynamism that makes New York City the greatest city in the world,” Gross said in the announcement.
Program Seeks Community-Led Solutions
Under the Challenge-Based Procurement model, SBS is not prescribing a specific program design. Instead, it is asking community partners to propose solutions that address the most pressing challenges vendors face, including regulatory compliance, access to legal vending opportunities, and competition for space in busy commercial districts.
“Through the Venture Forward challenge procurement, SBS aims to engage with community members and organizations who understand the challenges of street vendors and street vending and can propose innovative solutions for how to best overcome them,” Gross said in the announcement.
The agency noted that New York City’s street vendor ecosystem is both culturally significant and economically vital, but also strained by issues such as sidewalk congestion, improper waste disposal, and tensions with brick‑and‑mortar businesses. SBS said the pilot program must balance the needs of vendors with those of residents, visitors, and storefront businesses that share the same public spaces.
Funding Up to $750,000 Available
SBS will award up to $750,000 in contracts to one or more organizations selected through the competitive process. Proposals must be submitted by January 30, 2026, through the city’s PASSPort procurement portal.
The agency said successful proposals should demonstrate experience working with street vendors or related communities, as well as the ability to design programs that are both sustainable and scalable. Proposed services may include education, outreach, legal navigation, business development, or other interventions that help vendors operate lawfully and safely.
SBS emphasized that proposals may complement—but cannot duplicate—existing services offered through NYC Business Solutions Centers, which already provide financing assistance, legal consultations, tax preparation, and government navigation support for small businesses and vendors.
Addressing a Growing Need
The announcement comes amid rising attention to the challenges facing New York City’s estimated 20,000 street vendors, many of whom are immigrants and low‑income workers. Advocates have long called for expanded support, clearer regulations, and more legal vending opportunities.
SBS said the pilot program is intended to generate new ideas that can be tested quickly and expanded if successful. The agency described the effort as part of a broader strategy to modernize how the city engages with vendors and to create pathways toward lawful economic activity.
The initiative also reflects the city’s growing use of Challenge-Based Procurement, which allows agencies to solicit creative solutions rather than prescribe specific program models. SBS said this approach is particularly suited to the complex and evolving issues surrounding street vending.
Proposals will be evaluated on feasibility, community impact, sustainability, and the proposer’s experience. Selected partners are expected to begin work later in 2026.
