Announcing Our 3rd Round Longevity Fund Grantees and Introducing the Next Phase of The Longevity Fund
We are thrilled to announce our third and final round of Longevity Fund grant recipients! As we shared yesterday in our 2020 financial update, we not only met our fundraising goal of $200,000 but also surpassed it, giving us the ability to award an additional 5 grants, to a total of $225,000 in grant distribution to 45 Chinatown small businesses. We are so humbled by your generosity.
From our grant recipients, we have heard that this funding provides them with much-needed financial relief to the mounting costs of maintaining their businesses through COVID. Here’s what some of our recipients have shared on why they’re grateful for the community’s support through The Longevity Fund:
“Welcome to Chinatown helped us a lot by sharing our story so people understand how hard it is for Chinatown right now. The Longevity Fund will help us pay rent, which hasn’t gone down since COVID hit.” - Pasteur Grill and Noodles
“We are incredibly grateful to receive so much support from Welcome to Chinatown. Aside from the grant, WtC helped promote our store and helped us gain publicity. WtC picked us up from a really dark place.” - Soft Swerve
“Money is very difficult right now, but we can survive. The grant will help us pay rent. All the fundraising happening now is good for the community — I know many people who are receiving support. It’s great that young people are involved in community work.” - Shakya Trading
Welcome to Chinatown started the Longevity Fund to provide short-term relief to Chinatown small businesses at a time of dire need. But it is also increasingly apparent that in order for Chinatown to remain always open small businesses need more than short-term aid. As we think about our next phase of The Longevity Fund, Welcome to Chinatown is committed to investing in small business sustainability to ensure Chinatown’s small business owners are empowered to thrive independently.
We are proud to announce the new direction of The Longevity Fund, shaped by our diligent research gathered through countless conversations and surveying to intimately understand Chinatown’s needs:
Small Business Directory, currently in pilot: 57% of our Longevity Fund applicants lack social media presence, and 67% do not have a website. Even if the businesses have a website, it is often poorly maintained with language being a factor, given that ⅓ of our Longevity Fund applicants do not speak English. By releasing a digital directory for the community, a free resource for small businesses and users alike, we’re hoping for individuals to (re)discover one of New York City’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
Rolling Grants, April 2021: Small businesses will have the opportunity to apply for monetary grants with an “as per request model” based on statements of need. We strive to open conversations about financial and resource needs that will help a small business recuperate losses and/or drive long term sustainability.
Small Business Accelerator, Summer 2021: Community preservation of Manhattan’s Chinatown begins with our small businesses, which have been disproportionately burdened by a lack of access to resources and funding opportunities even prior to COVID. Our accelerator aims to benefit those that need it most and will work with talented individuals and like-minded companies to provide targeted workings including but not limited to finance, marketing, and operations.
None of this can happen without your donation. We are grateful for those that choose to give to the Longevity Fund, whether monetarily or by sharing our efforts on your networks, because it stands for preservation of one of the most culturally significant enclaves for Asian Americans.
Without further ado, please join us in recognizing our next round of grant recipients*:
Retail:
Eva Diamond Corp.
Top Master Jewelry Corp.
Food & Beverage:
The Little One
Up Stairs Bar
Public Village
Services:
Kelly Hair Salon
New Welling Physical Therapy and Acupuncture
Peng’s Body Work
Season 88 Spa
Grocer or Goods Store:
Wai Wah Market
TYK Trading
Long Jin Trading, Inc.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing stories, history and more behind the businesses. Stay tuned by subscribing to our newsletter at the bottom of this page or follow us for updates on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
