Please see below for a video of the speakers at the partnership and grant announcement for the National Grid Foundation. We recently covered the NGF’s National Day Of Service, where they cleaned up a busy corridor on the North Shore of Staten Island. The recent Chamber of Commerce annual meeting put small business in the spotlight. Watch the press conference at Dough on Staten Island below:
Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation and National Grid to Celebrate Conclusion of Energy Affordability Grant Program About the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in partnership with the National Grid Foundation, held a press conference to celebrate the conclusion and impact of the Staten Island Energy Affordability Initiative, a grant program that provided direct financial assistance to Staten Island small businesses and community organizations facing rising energy costs.
The initiative provided assistance to 26 Staten Island businesses and organizations, with awards totaling $170,000. Funding helped recipients offset high natural gas costs and make energy-related improvements, including new heating and cooking equipment, HVAC systems, water heaters, insulation, and other upgrades designed to improve efficiency and reduce long-term operating expenses. NG Grant Impact Statement Representatives from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation and National Grid were joined by grant recipients to highlight the program’s impact and hear directly from local businesses that benefited from the funding.
The press conference, shown also in the above video, took place on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 3:30 PM at DOUGH by Licastri Silver Lake
Rising utility expenses have placed added pressure on Staten Island’s small businesses. The Staten Island Energy Affordability Initiative was designed to respond to individual business needs, providing both immediate relief from high energy costs and support for improvements that can help reduce expenses over time. In total, $170,000 in grants were funded by National Grid and distributed by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
Among the recipients was Dough by Licastri, which received $12,000 toward energy relief and new efficient burners and fryers. The business credited the grant with helping it upgrade equipment to reduce both energy usage and expenses over the long term.
Banner Image: At the press conference. Image Credit – SIEDC
Staten Island Economic Development Corporation
SIEDC’s mission is to enhance Staten Island’s economy by promoting public and private investment, and encouraging responsible and sustainable development, all of which improve the quality of life and provide broad and diverse employment opportunities in the borough.