BUILT IN LOWER MANHATTAN
Harvey’s Plan to Power Up Small Businesses
One Door In, Every Tool Available
Small business owners should not need a law degree or a lobbyist to interact with their own city government. Harvey will streamline access to City Hall by creating a “Small Business Concierge”—a dedicated point person who helps entrepreneurs navigate permits, inspections, compliance, and more. But Harvey won’t stop at red tape. He’ll also ensure this office leverages every city resource—marketing assistance, digital upgrades, access to public contracts, and pop-up retail opportunities—to promote and power local businesses. From start to scale, Harvey’s plan brings the full weight of the city’s support to the storefronts that define our neighborhoods.
Help with Commercial Leases
In a volatile real estate market, commercial lease negotiations can make or break a small business. Harvey will champion a city-funded Commercial Lease Assistance Program, which he helped first start when he ran a legal services program. This program provides legal and technical support to small business tenants facing lease renewals, evictions, or unfair terms. From the East Village to the Lower East Side, this is about standing up to imbalance and making sure our neighborhood stores and services have the tools to stay open and thrive.
A Lifeline When It’s Needed Most
Too many small businesses can’t access traditional loans, especially immigrant-owned, minority-owned, and legacy family businesses. Harvey will fight for a revolving loan fund that provides flexible, low-interest loans to neighborhood businesses looking to recover, grow, or simply make payroll during hard times. The fund will recycle repayments into new loans—keeping money flowing locally and creating economic resilience block by block.
Grow Local Talent and Ideas
Downtown Manhattan is bursting with creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Harvey will expand access to business incubation spaces in underused city buildings, particularly for start-ups, artists, and tech innovators from underrepresented communities. These spaces will include shared services, mentoring, and affordable rent, nurturing the next generation of Lower Manhattan businesses.
Power to the People Who Power the Economy
Harvey knows that strong merchant associations build strong neighborhoods. He will expand city grants to fund merchant associations that organize events, beautify corridors, and advocate for policies that reflect their community’s needs. From Flatiron to Avenue C, local business voices must shape the future of their commercial strips.
A More Democratic Economy
Harvey is a strong supporter of worker-owned cooperatives—businesses that create good jobs with democratic decision-making and profit-sharing. He’ll push for startup funding, technical assistance, and procurement preference for worker co-ops, with a special focus on home care, retail, and food services. Downtown Manhattan can lead in building a more just and inclusive economy where workers have real ownership.