Economic Development Opportunity Highlights
Carbontech Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program
- $9 million is available to establish the Carbontech Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program to support scientists who have breakthrough innovations to contribute to building New York as a hub for carbon-to-value technology.
- The new program will provide technical expertise that bridges research and development with the commercialization of products, grow entrepreneurial training for scientists, expand the State’s innovation ecosystem, and accelerate economy-wide deep decarbonization.
- NYSERDA is seeking proposals for an organization to run the Carbontech Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program, which will be selected through a competitive process. The entity will be responsible for finding entrepreneurial innovators to participate in the program and supporting them as they advance their products to market.
- Learn more HERE.
Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program – Apply Now!
- Provides grant funding to eligible small and micro businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations impacted by the pandemic.
- Grants will be flexible and can be used for a number of different business operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, PPE or other business expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021.
- Grant awards will generally range between $5,000 – $50,000 depending on 2019 annual gross receipts.
- For more information about the grant program, including a list of documentation required in the application, see details HERE.
Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Now Open
Round XI of the CFA is open with over $750 million in funding available through more than 30 state programs.
- Since 2011, the first year of the REDC initiative, the CFA has enabled businesses, municipalities, not-for-profits and members of the public to apply for multiple sources of funding from dozens of state agency programs through a single application, for projects that create jobs and help to revitalize communities.
- All of the 2021 guidelines and resources documents can be found on the MHREDC website at https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/mid-hudson.
- CFA Deadline for many programs: 4:00 PM SHARP on July 30, 2021
- Attend an upcoming Virtual CFA Information Session! Information sessions are hosted by ESD team members ready to answer questions about the CFA process. Register for an upcoming event below:
2021 Mid-Hudson Regional MWBE Online Opportunities Expo
- The expo will feature an online experience with panel discussions, information on regional projects, workshops on special topics and other business development resources.
- It will also include information about State-sponsored financial and technical assistance programs, including the New York Forward Loan Fund the Bridge to Success Loan Program, and the New York State Surety Bond Assistance Program.
- Join the Mid-Hudson MWBE expo on Thursday, July 22, 2021.
- Register to attend HERE.
- Learn more about this year’s MWBE Online Expos HERE.
Project Highlights:
- Home of Newly Certified FAA Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technology School—First in 50 Years—to Provide Education and Training for High-Demand, High-Paying Jobs in the Mid-Hudson Region
- First of its Kind Cidery uses Minimal Energy for Heating and Cooling Harnessing the Power of the Seasons
- Photos May be Viewed Here
Economic Development Resources
Funding Opportunities
- Business Pandemic Recovery Initiative
- Round 11 of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiative / CFA
- New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) FY2022 funding will be offered in 4 rounds. Learn more HERE.
- Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program – deadlines are Sep 10, and Nov 8, 2021
- Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants – Search for “community impact” – deadline is 3 p.m. EST on July 1, 2021
- Community Development Block Grant Applications for Economic Development, Small Business & Microenterprise accepted throughout 2021 with rolling awards. Learn more HERE.
- Federal Economic Development Assistance, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CARES)
- $60 Million has been made available through the NYS Office of Community Renewal (OCR) to assist units of local government to respond, prepare for and prevent Coronavirus.
- Applications are being accepted from units of local government on a rolling basis through August 27, 2021.
- New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) ReCharge NY Program
- NYSERDA
- Utility Economic Development Programs
- Federal Grants
Technical Assistance for Businesses
- Get Help Navigating State and Federal Small Business Assistance Programs
- Empire State Development’s Division of Small Business
- New York State Small Business Development Center
- Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center: Serving Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster Counties
- Rockland Small Business Development Center: Serving Putnam, Rockland, Westchester Counties
- Women’s Enterprise Development Center
- New York State Certified Business Incubators and Innovation Hot Spots: New York State has designated 10 Innovation Hot Spots—one for each of New York’s economic development regions—and 20 Certified Business Incubators, which receive funding to reach a greater number of early-stage companies. Support may vary by location but generally includes: physical space; shared administrative staff; access to capital; coaching; mentoring; networking connections; prototype development; and access to other technical services. Innovation Hot Spots also coordinate regional entrepreneurial ecosystems, and can offer tax benefits to client businesses. In the Mid-Hudson we have:
- BioInc @New York Medical College: The region’s only biotechnology incubator offers shared resources, turnkey wet lab space and sponsored professional services to promising, high-potential entrepreneurs and start-ups. BioInc@NYMC helps members achieve development and funding milestones.
- Hudson Valley Center for Innovation | Accel7: Accel7 is the oldest, continuously operating business and tech accelerator serving the Hudson Valley between Westchester and Albany, focusing on building and launching Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) solutions with early-stage entrepreneurs.
- Business Mentor NY (BMNY): Business Mentor NY is the State’s first large scale, hands-on small business mentoring program that helps NYS entrepreneurs and established small businesses overcome challenges to grow their business. Business Mentor NY is a free resource that allows entrepreneurs and volunteer mentors to easily connect so they can solve problems and build businesses together.
- SBA’s Ascent: Free learning platform for women entrepreneurs
- Business Express: Your Guide to Doing Business in New York State
- Empire State Digital: Connects New York-based small businesses with the education, access and resources needed to digitize, expand and adapt to the new economy due to the changes from COVID-19.
- ESD Global New York: Export Assistance for NYS Businesses
- Global NY programs connect companies with sales agents and distributors abroad and offset the costs of exporting with grants and loans.
- Global NY is committed to helping businesses sell their products and services in growing markets including Canada, China, Europe, India, Israel, Mexico, Europe, South Africa and South America.
- For Manufacturers
- New York State Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) Assists Small And Mid-Sized Manufacturers In Becoming More Competitive
- Fuzehub: Resources for NYS Manufacturers
- NYS Office of General Services: Guidance on Doing Business with New York State
Workforce Development Resources
- New York Entertainment Workforce Diversity Grant Program
- New York State Jobs Express: Employers with job openings can post their open positions, and individuals looking for employment can search for opportunities on the NYS Department of Labor’s Jobs Express website.
- For Job Seekers:
- NYS Department of Labor’s Jobs Express website
- SUNY Online Training Center –free skill-building, college prep, and employment certification programs with one-on-one career coaching
- Free Online Platform for New Yorkers to Learn New Job Skills, Earn Certificates & Advance Their Careers: Create a free account with Coursera Here
Resources for Employers
- NY State of Health: Shop here to see what health insurance options are available to you, your family, and your business
- Child Care:Parents in need of free child care resources and referrals are encouraged to visit www.HVChildCare.org, where they can enter their zip code to immediately find the name and contact information of the agency that serves their location.
- NYS DOL Shared Work Program: New York State’s DOL Shared Work Program helps businesses manage business cycles and seasonal adjustments. Shared Work lets businesses keep trained staff and avoid layoffs. Employees can receive partial unemployment insurance benefits while working reduced hours. Full-time, part-time and seasonal employees are eligible.
Data and Reports