Small Business Anti-Displacement Network

Warmest wishes from SBAN this holiday season!

"In short, revitalizing a neighborhood requires more than one or two projects; it demands sustained, multi-faceted investment." Brett Theodos, Urban Institute’s senior fellow and director of the Community Economic Development Hub, and SBAN working group facilitator, presented data at Kresge’s national convening Our Urban Future that outlines the challenges in today’s landscape for community developers. Check out a recent interview with Brett that follows up on that discussion and dives into what makes that work hard today, how that can vary by place, and what the future under a new administration might hold. The initial conversation was held on Sept. 11, 2024. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/d3jGBMgJ

SBAN is proud to support a new bill recently introduced to the House of Representatives: The Capacity Building for Business Districts Pilot Program This new program would create a competitive grant program within the U.S. Economic Development Administration to support business district organizations in rural and underserved areas. SBAN has signed on to the bill, along with a broad range of national organizations—including SBAN members: -AEO (Association for Enterprise Opportunity) (SBAN member) -Center on Rural Innovation  -Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Initiatives Support Corporation (SBAN member) -Main Street America (SBAN member) -National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL)  -National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations -Small Business Majority (SBAN member) -Small Business Roundtable Read about the proposed bill and what it means for small businesses in rural areas from Main Street America's recent blog post: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dzyQGFU7

❄️ Our December newsletter is out! NEWSLETTER: https://lnkd.in/eE25gMic Click on the link above for an SBAN Summit recap, information about a new bill to support business districts, new research making the case for Latinx-owned businesses, a spotlight on LA County tenant protections, and a resource to help manage commercial vacancies. PLUS - what's coming ahead for 2025! (Hint: new programming) Make sure you're signed up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about new anti-displacement strategies, tools, and resources: www.antidisplacement.org

Welcome New SBAN Member Kate Krebs Lyda, founder of Staro Insights, an impact investing strategy firm that supports funders and nonprofits in impact-first capital strategies. Kate brings a wealth of experience to the SBAN Network as a grantmaker and fundraiser who helps community-led organizations and funders use impact investing strategies to take on large, mission-driven projects. She is a go-to person for funding sources and creative ideas! Staro Insights is mainly focused on working with community-driven nonprofits where those most affected are the ones making decisions, and with foundations and families who are interested in shifting power and resources to Black, Indigenous, Latine, and other communities. Learn more about Kate and Staro Insights: https://lnkd.in/d84WpfVz

SBAN Member Majora Carter was recently featured on 99% Invisible's podcast, The Power Broker, which breaks down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize-winning book by the same name about the infamous Robert Moses' rise to power in New York City. His four-decade reign in the Public Works Department is responsible for hundreds of displaced residents and the massive expressways that cut through historic residential neighborhoods in New York, like South Bronx. Majora Carter is an urban revitalization strategist and real estate developer from the South Bronx with plenty to say about Robert Moses' legacy. Now, she's aiming to undo Robert Moses’ damage by developing vibrant community spaces, like Hunt’s Point Riverside Park along the Bronx River. Listen to the episode and hear Majora's take: https://lnkd.in/e_MGUF2b

Last week's SBAN Advisor Session, led by Larisa Ortiz, Managing Director of Public Non-Profit Solutions at Streetsense, focused on filling retail spaces and commercial vacancy challenges in our post-pandemic landscape. 🛍️ The session emphasized proper retail design, robust community engagement, and the importance of understanding evolving retail demands. As a former New York City planning commissioner, Ortiz stressed the value of working with city planners to navigate commercial zoning regulations, and noted that business closures can create opportunities for repurposing spaces, that still support the small business community, like transitioning a vacant retail space into entrepreneur incubators or co-working areas. If you are a commercial district manager, do yourself a favor and review this comprehensive guide, "Improving Tenant Mix," published by ICSC and authored by Ortiz: https://lnkd.in/eHhPXM4p Learn more about Larisa Ortiz and her current role at Streetsense: https://lnkd.in/gVdQAJhi ---------- This is just a quick summary for our wider network! Advisor sessions are for SBAN Members and offer an opportunity to receive individual advice from national experts through tailored resources and one-on-one feedback. Interested in learning more about membership? Head to: https://lnkd.in/e7-K--Qa

Last week, the SBAN team convened to strategize for a busy year in 2025! We are developing new programs and tools to support organizations dedicated to stabilizing small businesses in gentrifying neighborhoods. 👍🏾 Stay tuned for updates on our new peer-to-peer mentoring program, which will provide one-on-one support to SBAN Members, as well as updated strategy and policy guides concerning commercial tenant protections and climate gentrification. 🛠️ We are also investigating anti-displacement strategies for areas in the early stages of gentrification, updating our Toolkit, and planning webinars that delve into topics such as legacy business programs, vacancy taxes, and land banking. 🗓️ Get ready to mark your calendar for our second, in-person SBAN Conference in November 2025! (Save the Date coming soon) Want to be the first to access these new tools and updates? Sign up for our newsletter at: ➡️ www.antidisplacement.org

This week, Smart Growth America is hosting an Equity Forum: Centering Community to Prevent Displacement, featuring SBAN Member Sheila Somashekhar, Director of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition (PLCC). 🗓️ Thursday, December 12 at 1:30 p.m. EST. Link to register for the zoom: ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/e6f2kMQV -------- The forum will explore how to reduce displacement risk in the face of massive transit investment and highlight successful examples of coalition-building and deep community engagement from the Purple Line Corridor Coalition. Participants will also see a preview of new HUD Thriving Communities training materials, designed to help local governments support residents and small businesses facing displacement pressures. The training will be released as part of a toolkit in 2025 but Kyle Smith, Senior Manager, Housing and Community Development at ICF, and Jennifer Cobb, Just Solutions Manager at Partnership for Southern Equity will share more details this week! The forum will also feature participants from Smart Growth America's Community Connectors and Healing our Highways programs. See you there! (photos from a 2023 SBAN conference site visit hosted by PLCC)

There are many ways to support small businesses this holiday season, when most vendors make the bulk of their income for the entire year. Our staff always likes to peek at Next City's annual gift guide, designed for "urbanists, city planners, and community advocates in your life." "No affiliate links or PR involved – just ideas to help you check off your list while supporting equitable cities and small, worker-owned and minority-owned urban businesses." Check it out: