Optimum Business and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Announce the Grant Winners of the Lifting up Small Businesses in The Bronx, New York Program

25 small businesses across the Bronx to receive a $5,000 grant to support their growth and long-term success

NEW YORK (NOVEMBER 10, 2026) - Optimum Business, a leading provider of fiber internet, mobile, and TV services, and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, whose mission is to advance economic opportunity, growth, innovation, and comprehensive business planning for the Bronx, today announce the 25 grant winners of the Lifting up Small Businesses in The Bronx, New York program, who will each be receiving a $5,000 grant. Optimum Business and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce expect to announce the recipient of the $20,000 grand prize grant in the coming weeks.

The funding will help support the businesses' growth, strengthen their operations, and contribute to the continued prosperity of the communities they serve. Featured grant recipients include:

• The People's Choice Meat Market & Grill: A meat market and grill serving fresh food, the business plans to use the grant to upgrade kitchen and food-service equipment, improve its storefront and work areas, and increase inventory to support more efficient service, business growth, and potential employment opportunities.

• Danny's Auto Hospital Corporation: An automotive repair business that aims to use the funds to develop a hands-on learning program for students at local high schools, including Women's Academy of Excellence and Archimedes Academy, offering experience in automotive repair, diagnostics, customer service, and inventory management.

• Fancy Feet Dance Studio: The studio has provided a nurturing environment for local children for 45 years. It intends to use the grant to purchase new mats and updated equipment to enhance student safety, with remaining funds supporting a new awning to improve visibility and welcome new families.

Optimum Business and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce will host a recognition event on November 17 to celebrate the grant winners, alongside local officials and community partners from across the borough. For the full list of grant recipients and more information on the Lifting up Small Businesses in The Bronx program, visit optimum.com/business/bronx.

"Bronx entrepreneurs bring creativity, determination, and a deep commitment to their neighborhoods," said Robert Silvestri, Senior Director of Market Business at Optimum. "Through our partnership with the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, we're helping these small businesses take their next steps - whether that means strengthening operations, pursuing new ideas, or reaching more customers. At Optimum Business, we're proud to invest in these entrepreneurs and the communities they call home through this grant program and the connectivity services that help small businesses thrive in today's digital world."

"We congratulate the 25 small business selected for this grant program and celebrate this important investment in their future," said Lisa Sorin, President and CEO of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. "The applications we received reflect the incredible potential of our local business community and the many ways entrepreneurs are looking to grow. We're proud to partner with Optimum Business to help turn plans into progress and strengthen communities throughout the Bronx."

"Our small businesses in the Bronx are vital to our local economy, and initiatives like Lifting Up Small Businesses in the Bronx, New York, help ensure that local entrepreneurs have access to the critical resources and support they need to grow and sustain their businesses in our communities," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "I want to thank the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Optimum Business for their work on this incredible program and congratulate the winners of today's Bronx Chamber Small Business Awards. Each winner exemplifies the ingenuity, innovation, and resilience that define our borough."

The Lifting up Small Businesses in The Bronx program also provides a six-month membership to applicants and a one-year complimentary membership to grant recipients who are new to the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. These benefits offer additional opportunities to build networks, strengthen operations, and access resources that support continued growth.

The grant program is made possible through its Founding Partner, Optimum Business, and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. The initiative reflects Optimum's ongoing commitment to deepening its community presence and connecting customers to what matters most by supporting, understanding, and celebrating what makes each of its local communities unique.