FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2023

SBS ROLLS OUT "LIVE NYC MAP" TOOL FEATURING REAL-TIME COMPREHENSIVE DATA ON SMALL BUSINESSES AND PUBLIC PLACES ACROSS NYC

New Yorkers can 'Shop Your City' Using Live Map of Small Businesses Across Five Boroughs

Map Will Provide All City Agencies with Comprehensive Data to Improve Outreach and Inform Policies Impacting Local Businesses

NEW YORK – SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim today announced the Live NYC Map, a comprehensive database featuring a searchable map of small businesses and public-facing locations for every block across New York City. The Live NYC Map is the most accurate, verified snapshot of more than 150,000 storefronts and public places across the city's landscape to date, and serves as the engine for the City's Shop Your City website, where New Yorkers can discover and support their local small businesses. The announcement comes as the City celebrates both a record-number of New Yorkers employed and double-digit drops in crime across the board. Ahead of Small Business Saturday and the holiday shopping season, the Live NYC Map framework will make shopping local and shopping small easier than ever before.

The Live NYC Map, and the comprehensive database that powers it, are made possible by a groundbreaking partnership between Live XYZ and SBS. Map data is updated daily, and the entire city is re-mapped every 90 days by door-to-door street teams. Live XYZ captures occupancy and vacancy data, as well as rich metadata, and high-resolution photographs for every public-facing space in all five boroughs. The platform will be used by City agencies, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and other partners to better target resources and services to local businesses and the community.

"The Live NYC Map is a great example of how the City is focused on making technology work for all New Yorkers. By giving New Yorkers access to the most up-to-date information on their local storefronts, we are making it easier than ever to shop local," said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. "I am also excited to see how City agencies and our partners will leverage the broader data partnership between Live XYZ and the City to maximize the impact of our work in commercial corridors and our outreach to the city's storefront businesses."

"Whether it's Small Business Saturday, or any other day of the week, shopping local just got a whole lot easier," said SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. "Powered by the Live NYC Map, our Shop Your City website is now the most complete and accurate map of small businesses and public places across New York in our city's history. I want to thank Live XYZ for their partnership in making this possible. Together we just took a big leap forward in making New York City the City of Yes."

"We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the City of New York to provide a comprehensive and accurately maintained dataset of every storefront on every block," said Live XYZ Founder & CEO Jason Greenwald. "Live XYZ data serves as the bedrock upon which vital systems, programs, agencies, and organizations rely. This transformative initiative will drive economic development, promote neighborhoods, enhance public safety, and fuel progress across the five boroughs. We are proud to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of New York City."

Key features of the Live NYC Map include:

• Database of storefront occupancy since 2018
• Extensive business metadata, including contact information, links to business websites and social media
• Maps and reports visualizing the unique composition of the city's many diverse businesses and neighborhoods

Making technology work for New Yorkers

In addition to making shopping at local small businesses easier, the partnership with Live XYZ will improve the quality of services delivered to New Yorkers at all levels of government and community engagement. More than 500 users across 15 City agencies, their partner organizations, and nearly all BIDs are utilizing the Live NYC Map today, including:

• The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) to inform and quickly ID property owners, businesses, clinics, schools, and others about upcoming projects;
• DDC Community Construction Liaisons to connect with locals regarding temporary utility shutdowns and more, improving communications around the execution of infrastructure projects throughout the city;
• The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to conduct education and outreach regarding City rules and ordinances applicable to businesses of all types;
• SBS's Emergency Response Unit (ERU) to identify points of contact in areas impacted by inclement weather events, such as flooding;
• The NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) to analyze community business composition which will inform future City planning and public projects; and,
• BIDs to assist local entrepreneurs in locating new storefronts and activate retail spaces within their neighborhoods; and to create accurate, living shopping directories for shoppers to easily discover and support local businesses.

"The new Live NYC Map is a great resource for the DDC community outreach team, which helps us contact local businesses and identify their needs before we start a neighborhood infrastructure project," said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. "The database provides DDC staff with property owners and their contact information, as well as which businesses are water-dependent and which restaurants have outdoor dining sheds. All of this goes into our project planning so that we can accommodate their needs and cause as few disruptions as possible during construction. The map is great tool, and we are expanding our use of it."

"This data is a valuable tool for understanding where and how New Yorkers are spending their time so that we can continue to support a successful economic recovery," said DCP Director Dan Garodnick. "The Live NYC Map will help us plan for housing, jobs, and transportation, and has already been useful in crafting the most effective 'City of Yes' policies."

"The NYC BID Association is excited for the launch of the Live NYC Map created in partnership between SBS and Live XYZ," said BID Association Co-Chairs Erin Piscopink and Robert J. Benfatto. "We have long advocated for enhanced data on retail storefronts, and this map will provide both a useful snapshot of the city's retail activity and other practical capabilities. This map will surely enable BIDs to more effectively assist their districts and continue to ensure vibrant communities across NYC. We thank everyone for their hard work to make this a reality."

Other City agencies currently using Live NYC Map and database include the NYC Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) is actively planning to use the map and database. All City agencies and the City's 76 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are expected to be users of the Live NYC Map by the end of 2023.

"The Live NYC Map spotlights the unique small businesses and exceptional public spaces that make New York City an amazing place to live, work and recreate," said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Not only will this data be instrumental in bolstering our economy, but it will also enable our sister agencies to work in collaboration to bring more resources and services to communities across the city."

"Local small businesses are the backbone of the City's economy and helping them bounce back during this time of recovery after the Covid emergency is absolutely necessary," said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. "In addition to identifying places to shop, this innovative map also tells New Yorkers about nearby clinics which will help them stay healthy and strong. This is a win-win for everybody."

"As we approach Small Business Saturday, New Yorkers can now navigate our vibrant commercial landscape online through the new Live NYC Map," said NYC Council Member Julie Menin, Chair of the Committee on Small Business. "Shopping local at our small businesses isn't just a transaction — it's a direct investment into our communities. In every corner, on every block, a local shop awaits your support and thank you to Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin D. Kim for partnering with Live XYZ to make it easier to discover small businesses."

"In a world where technology is the compass guiding us through discovery, I am excited for the launch of the Live NYC Map from SBS," said NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, Chair of the Committee on Technology. "This tool is a great example of how City agencies can harness technology as an ally to lift up those who are struggling, and collectively drive support toward our small businesses."

"Every neighborhood economic development organization needs accurate data to promote, support, and represent local businesses," said Executive Director of the West Village Business Improvement District Zach Owens. "The City's partnership with Live XYZ will be a game changer for BIDs and place managers. This innovative tool will help commercial districts advocate with real-time data, recruit businesses that bring living-wage jobs, track vacancy and occupancy, and uplift our unique neighborhoods by forging connections among local businesses and communities."

About Live XYZ
Live XYZ is the first neighborhood map & storefront directory where every business is visible, indexed, & mapped to the front door. Live XYZ's team are mappers, designers, technologists, and community builders that value craftsmanship, culture, & innovation. The Company's combination of ground surveys and cloud infrastructure delivers the most comprehensive understanding of occupancy and vacancy rates, business composition, contact information, digital presence, geospatial information, trends, and more.

For more information, go to livexyz.com or email info@livexyz.com.

About the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information on all SBS services, go to nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.