Small business owners joined leaders in the community along the Grand Concourse in the Bronx to launch a new safety initiative for local bodegas.

The group is investing $1 million to upgrade security at neighborhood bodegas. The safety measures include high-definition cameras, a point-of-sale system with emergency communications and the installment of panic buttons inside convenience stores.

This initiative is being offered to bodegas in the Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights. Officials did not go into specifics on how bodegas are chosen for these upgrades, but they did say it will come on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Victor Marte has been a bodega owner in Kingsbridge for the last 25 years, and says to upgrade his security cameras alone would cost him over $3,000. He says the free safety improvements will help to better protect his business, workers, and customers.

Officials are encouraging bodega owners to apply for the pilot program, which starts on June 1.