THE INFLUENCE · OPPORTUNITIES · NEW YORK
Established storefront businesses in Elmhurst, Queens, have a chance to secure $25,000 through the Wells Fargo Neighborhood Growth Grants program. The Queens Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for ZIP code 11373 until Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
The award is a non-repayable cash grant, rather than a loan. There is no application charge. The Chamber plans to select 18 eligible businesses at random and notify recipients in December. A Wells Fargo banking relationship is not required.
Who qualifies?
The current program is limited to actively operating, for-profit businesses with a storefront in 11373, at least two continuous years of operations and revenue, and 2025 revenue of $75,000–$2.5 million. Applicants also need required licenses and permits, a business bank account and identification. The Chamber requires good standing with New York State; the application excludes pending bankruptcy, dissolution or receivership.
Women-owned businesses may apply, but this is not a women-only competition. Online-only businesses and nonprofits do not meet the stated storefront/for-profit criteria. A nonprofit choice in the form’s tax-classification dropdown does not override those rules. Read the Chamber’s current eligibility and selection rules.
What the money can support
The Chamber lists equipment and technology, storefront improvements, marketing, inventory, and hiring or training. The application also identifies eligible spending such as product diversification and increased fulfillment capacity. This is flexible business-growth support, not an education-only award or a reimbursement described as a grant. Applicants must agree to eligible business uses; the award agreement controls final terms.
The documents and answers to have ready
The official form asks for:
- Readable owner photo identification.
- All pages of 2024 and 2025 federal business returns: Schedule C with Form 1040, Form 1065 or Form 1120, as applicable.
- A business bank statement from the last three months; deposits must use an FDIC-backed business account.
- Owner contact details, business address, start date, tax classification, six-digit NAICS code, EIN or ITIN, annual revenues and employee counts.
- A 50–100-word explanation of intended funding use.
The form accepts several ID types, including passports and consular ID, while the program summary says state ID. Ask the administrator if unsure. Use the form’s document-comments field to explain discrepancies. Check the complete official document and consent requirements.
How selection works—and what is still unknown
Eligibility review comes before the random draw. A more polished narrative does not create a scored advantage. Awards are limited; qualifying does not guarantee funding. Some awards may be designated for existing Wells Fargo clients. The public guidance gives no exact payment date. It also does not explain every post-award reporting or tax obligation; confirm these before accepting.
For application questions, contact sclevenger@queenschamber.org. General Chamber phone: 718-898-8500.
WWI preparation advice: make the $25,000 useful before it arrives
A random selection process changes the preparation strategy. Owners should spend their effort on accurate records, eligibility and a realistic project, rather than paying someone to make a short application sound impressive. There is no reason to treat a free application as a grant-writing contest.
Start with a business constraint you can name. Is equipment downtime slowing orders? Is an awkward layout limiting service? Are customers abandoning purchases because your checkout process is unreliable? A clear constraint makes it easier to identify a practical use of funds and measure whether the investment helped.
The following is an illustrative WWI planning example, not a provider-approved budget or a promise that every cost will qualify:
| Possible investment | Illustrative allocation | Question for the owner |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment purchase or upgrade | $12,000 | Will it remove a documented bottleneck? |
| Point-of-sale or other technology | $4,000 | What are the ongoing subscription costs? |
| Inventory | $5,000 | Is there evidence of demand and a plan to sell through? |
| Staff training | $4,000 | Which task, service or capability will improve? |
| Total | $25,000 | Confirm all uses with the administrator. |
Request estimates before committing to a purchase. Check installation costs, delivery, permits, maintenance and recurring expenses. A grant-funded upgrade should not leave the business with an operating cost it cannot sustain.
Draft the spending explanation offline
For the required short answer, explain what you would buy or change, the operating problem it addresses and how you would track progress. Use your own facts. Do not copy the example as though it describes your business.
Illustrative answer: We would use the grant to replace unreliable production equipment and improve our checkout system. These investments would address delays that currently limit the number of orders our storefront can complete. We would confirm vendor estimates before purchase and train staff on the new systems. We would track equipment downtime, order turnaround and completed transactions to assess whether the investment improves operations. Final spending would follow the grant’s approved business-use requirements.
Before you submit: a practical final check
- Confirm the storefront ZIP and revenue figures against your records.
- Check that every page of both tax returns is present and readable.
- Resolve differences between business names, addresses and supporting records, using the comments field where appropriate.
- Read the information-sharing and verification authorizations before agreeing.
- Submit ahead of the deadline and save any confirmation for your records.
These are WWI’s preparation recommendations. They do not add eligibility conditions or replace the Chamber’s instructions. Upload tax, bank and identification records only through the official application route, not to WWI or a social-media account claiming to process the grant.
WWI perspective: neighborhood capital should reach the storefront
For women entrepreneurs, access to funding often comes down to whether a program matches the business that already exists. This opportunity is narrowly local: a qualifying Elmhurst storefront can be a strong fit, while a business elsewhere in Queens may fall outside the current round. Sharing the exact ZIP, revenue year and document requirements is more useful than circulating a broad “$25,000 available” headline.
The broader Wells Fargo initiative connects grants with selected branch openings in New York City, Chicago and the Nashville area. Wells Fargo describes a $5 million program administered through local organizations. That national context does not make this Elmhurst application available nationwide. Read Wells Fargo’s explanation of the broader initiative.
Our view: owners should apply when the rules fit, while keeping their operating plan independent of an uncertain award. A non-repayable grant can accelerate a useful investment; a random draw should never become the only plan for keeping a business running.
Quick questions
Do I need a Wells Fargo account?
No. The Chamber explicitly says applicants do not need to be customers to apply or receive funding. A qualifying business bank account is still required.
Can WWI or another nonprofit apply?
No. The stated applicant audience is for-profit storefront businesses. WWI is sharing the opportunity as a resource.
Is the deadline local New York time?
Yes: December 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. EST, the time zone shown by the official application. That is 4 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Can I apply if I am outside ZIP 11373?
This Elmhurst round specifies 11373. Do not rely on an older announcement for a different neighborhood; ask the Chamber about other rounds.
Verified November 10, 2026, against the Queens Chamber’s live program page and linked Elmhurst application. Older search listings may show another neighborhood or an expired round. WWI advice and perspective are editorial analysis. Official terms may change; provider instructions control.
