City Offers Emergency Grants for Brooklyn Businesses Hit by Fire Before Eid

$18,285 in funding available to each storefront affected by blaze in Midwood neighborhood

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:59am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic studio still life featuring a collection of charred and damaged small business items like a cash register and hand-painted sign, conceptually representing the impact of an unexpected disaster on local enterprises.The city's emergency grant program aims to help small businesses in Brooklyn's Midwood neighborhood recover from a devastating fire that struck just before the important Eid al-Fitr holiday.Brooklyn Today

The New York City Department of Small Business Services has announced an emergency grant program to support small businesses in Brooklyn's Midwood neighborhood that were impacted by a fire on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. The $18,285 in grant funding per affected storefront is intended to help these entrepreneurs recover from the devastating incident.

Why it matters

The fire struck at a critical time for the predominantly Muslim community in Little Pakistan, just before the important Eid al-Fitr holiday. Small businesses are the economic lifeblood of this neighborhood, so the city is stepping in with emergency aid to help these enterprises get back on their feet.

The details

The fire broke out in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, home to a large Pakistani immigrant community, on the night before Eid al-Fitr. Several small businesses were damaged or destroyed, dealing a major blow to the local economy just as families were preparing to celebrate the important Islamic holiday. The city's emergency grant program will provide $18,285 in direct financial assistance to each storefront that was affected.

  • The fire occurred on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
  • The emergency grant program was announced by the New York City Department of Small Business Services on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

The players

New York City Department of Small Business Services

The city agency responsible for supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, including providing emergency aid and recovery assistance.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The city will begin accepting applications for the emergency grant program immediately, with funds expected to be distributed to eligible businesses within the next two weeks.

The takeaway

This rapid response from the city underscores the importance of supporting small businesses, especially in immigrant and minority communities that are the economic heart of neighborhoods like Little Pakistan. The emergency grants will provide a critical lifeline to help these enterprises recover from an unexpected disaster just before a major holiday.