BODEGA Act Opens Federal Crime Grants for Panic Buttons at Bakeries and Candy Shops

The BODEGA Act of 2025 (Bodega Owner Defense Enhancement Grant Assistance Act) is short, sweet, and focused on helping a very specific type of small business beef up its security using federal dollars. Essentially, this bill tweaks an existing federal funding stream—the grants under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968—to explicitly cover security upgrades for certain retail stores.

Who Gets to Use the Grant Money Now?

Before this change, those federal crime control grants could be used for various public safety efforts, but funding private business security was limited. The BODEGA Act expands the eligible uses of this grant money to specifically include installing panic buttons and surveillance equipment inside private businesses. This is the key change: it brings those physical security tools under the federal funding umbrella.

But here’s the fine print that matters: the bill doesn’t open the door for all small businesses. It targets only those private businesses that fall under a specific federal classification code: North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS) 445131. If you look that code up, it generally covers specialized food retail—think your local bakery, the neighborhood candy shop, or a gourmet coffee bean seller. It’s a very targeted approach to security funding (SEC. 2).

What This Means on Main Street

For the owner of a small, specialized retail store—like a baker who opens up at 5 a.m. or the owner of a small confectionery shop—this is a big deal. Security equipment like high-quality cameras and panic buttons can be expensive, and often small businesses operate on razor-thin margins. This legislation means that a bakery owner who might be worried about early-morning break-ins or robberies can now apply for federal grant money to cover the cost of installing a robust surveillance system or a discreet panic button system. It takes that cost burden off their books, allowing them to focus on selling croissants instead of worrying about the security bill.

This is a clear benefit for the targeted businesses, providing a practical way to enhance safety for employees and customers alike. However, it’s worth noting that the funding is highly specific. If you run a hardware store, a dry cleaner, or a general grocery store (which fall under different NAICS codes), this specific expansion doesn’t apply to you. You’re still locked out of this particular grant use, even if you face the same security risks. When the federal government opens up a funding stream this narrowly, it helps the targeted group immensely but leaves everyone else wondering why their business didn't make the cut.