In 2011, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a comprehensive strategy to transform New York State by aligning agency resources to further the State's economic recovery and to support new economic development opportunities. To coordinate and streamline these extraordinary economic development opportunities in each region of the State, Governor Cuomo created ten Regional Economic Development Councils (Regional Councils) that are comprised of local experts and stakeholders who know their regions best.
The grant application process for New York State's various economic development agencies has been streamlined as a result of the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The CFA enables businesses and other entities to apply to multiple agency funding sources through a single, web-based application.
The 2012 CFA will provide access to $530 million in economic development resources from 21 programs across a dozen state agencies, including: Empire State Development; NYS Canal Corporation; NYS Energy Research and Development Authority; Environmental Facilities Corporation; Homes and Community Renewal; Department of Labor; Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Department of State; New York Power Authority; Agriculture and Markets; Department of Environment Conservation; and Council on the Arts. The agency programs provide resources for projects focused on community development, direct assistance to business, waterfront revitalization, energy and environmental improvements, sustainability, workforce development, agricultural economic development and low-cost financing.
Homes and Community Renewal has announced available funding from seven (7) Office of Community Renewal programs, including: Urban Initiatives, Rural Area Revitalization Projects, New York Main Street, CDBG Economic Development, CDBG Small Business Assistance, CDBG Public Facilities, and CDBG Public Infrastructure. Each program is a competitive process with applications accepted through New York State's Consolidated Funding Application (CFA).
Urban Initiatives (UI)
The purpose of the Urban Initiatives (UI) program is to provide financial/technical resources to New York communities for the restoration and improvement of housing, commercial areas and public/community facilities in urban neighborhoods. UI will provide grants to not-for-profit community based organizations and charitable organizations that have a direct interest in improving the health, safety and economic viability of a distressed urban neighborhood or other aspects of the area environment that are related to community preservation or renewal activities. UI program provides applicants flexibility in determining the exact nature of their revitalization efforts and program priorities.
http://www.nyshcr.org/Programs/UrbanInitiatives/
Rural Area Revitalization Projects (RARP)
The purpose of the Rural Area Revitalization Projects (RARP) program is to provide financial/technical resources to New York communities for the restoration and improvement of housing, commercial areas and public/community facilities in rural communities. RARP will provide grants to not-for-profit community based organizations and charitable organizations that have a direct interest in improving the health, safety and economic viability of a rural area or other aspects of the area environment that are related to community preservation or renewal activities. RARP provides applicants flexibility in determining the exact nature of their revitalization efforts and program priorities.
http://www.nyshcr.org/Programs/RARP/
New York Main Street (NYMS)
Units of Local Government or organizations incorporated under the NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation Law may apply for matching grants to assist New York's communities with their Main Street and downtown revitalization efforts. Recipients may award these matching grants to reimburse building owners for renovations to downtown mixed-use buildings.
http://www.nyshcr.org/Programs/NYMainStreet/NYMSProgramGuide.pdf
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
CDBG Economic Development (ED)
Eligible units of local government may apply to assist a business undertaking traditional economic development activities such as business attraction, expansion, and retention projects which will result in the creation or retention of permanent, private sector job opportunities principally for persons from low- to moderate-income families.
CDBG Small Business Assistance (SB)
Eligible units of local government may apply to assist a small business undertaking traditional economic development activities such as attraction, expansion, and retention projects which will result in the creation or retention of permanent, private sector job opportunities principally for persons from low- to moderate-income families. For the purposes of this program, a small business is defined as a commercial enterprise with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees at the time of application.
http://www.nyshcr.org/Programs/NYS-CDBG/EDProgramGuidelines.pdf
List of Supporting Documents to be submitted with a CFA
CDBG ED and SB Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Forms:
CDBG Public Facilities / Other Public Works (PF)
Eligible units of local government may apply for grant funds to address a community public health, welfare or safety issue through public infrastructure activities such as water source development, storage, and distribution; sanitary sewage collection and treatment; flood control and storm water drainage. At least 51% of the persons benefiting from these activities must qualify as low- and moderate-income, as determined by the U.S. Census or an income survey.
CDBG Public Infrastructure (water/sewer/wastewater) (PI)
Eligible units of local government may apply for grant funds to address a community public health, welfare or safety issue through public infrastructure activities such as water source development, storage, and distribution; sanitary sewage collection and treatment; flood control and storm water drainage. At least 51% of the persons benefiting from these activities must qualify as low- and moderate-income, as determined by the U.S. Census or an income survey.
CDBG PF and PI Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Forms:
Last Updated: 05/09/12