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Here are some grant and loan programs that we're familiar with that you may be able to take advantage of. It's by no means an exhaustive list and we hope that you will contact us to find out more.
Empire State Development's Environmental Services Unit (ESU) provides grants to help qualified businesses improve their environmental performance. Under the Environmental Investment Program (EIP), New York State invests in projects that lead to the reuse or recycling of materials otherwise destined for disposal, and pollution prevention projects that lead to reductions in the volume or toxicity of waste before it is generated.
The EIP invests in projects that produce measurable and verifiable economic development and environmental results. These include increased productivity and competitiveness, job creation, job retention, recycling capacity, and pollution prevention. Projects should enable New York State businesses to capture the economic benefits resulting from environmental improvements implemented at their facilities.
EIP awards funds to qualified New York businesses, non-profit organizations and municipalities on behalf of businesses. Applications are reviewed on a competitive basis and applicants must be in compliance with environmental regulations at the time of award. ESU accepts applications continuously throughout the year and awards are made approximately five times a year.
The following is a brief overview of the three funding categories:
Capital Projects - ESU will invest up to 50% of the eligible project costs, up to a maximum of $500,000. Eligible costs include: physical assets (land, buildings, machinery & equipment, etc.); improvements, alterations, or repair to real property owned by the applicant (site prep, demolition, infrastructure); and consulting engineering costs related directly to the project.
Research Development & Demonstration Projects - ESU can invest up to 80% of the eligible costs, to a maximum of $200,000. ESU is not looking for basic research, and prefers projects that have high promise for leading directly to commercialization or use. Typically R&D funds are used for consulting services, analytical expenses, and leasing equipment (to determine if it is appropriate).
Technical Assistance Projects - Technical assistance projects are those in which NYS non-profit organizations or municipalities directly assist New York State businesses and institutions to achieve pollution prevention, reuse or recycling results.
Empire State Development provides assistance in identifying, developing, and implementing improved management and production processes to enhance efficiency, expand market share, and promote job growth through Industrial Effectiveness Grants. Up to $60,000 can be used to hire consultants to provide the following services:
Companies are selected based on demonstrated need, company size (companies must be small- or medium-sized), willingness to share costs and contribute resources, involvement of employees, and commitment to self-improvement. A company must first undergo an initial assessment, which can be accomplished using CITEC's Competitive Assessment.
The U.S. Department of Commerce provides a Trade Adjustment Assistance program that will fund up to 75% of consulting costs to make companies that have been hurt by foreign competition more competitive. Companies must be able to prove that they have had a decline in sales and employment. Once approval has been obtained (which may take up to 12 months), assistance is provided to solicit bids from consultants to provide an array of services including manufacturing assistance, marketing assistance, financial & general management assistance, and information technology assistance.
The Governor's Office for Small Cities, Empire State Development Corporation, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets provide $3 million to increasing the demand for and expanding the use of New York's agriculture and forest products under the Grow New York Enterprise Program. Funded activities should result in the creation or retention of job opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons. Emerging or expanding businesses that are focused on producing, processing, marketing, or expanding New York produced agricultural products are eligible to receiving funding for up to 40% of total project costs. Financing of machinery and equipment, building construction, working capital, or real property acquisition are all eligible uses. Business development and marketing assistance is available along with financing for project development costs. The State has set a general maximum funding limit of $750,000 per community with a $100,000 application minimum for projects. Projects are generally expected to result in the creation or retention of at least one full-time equivalent job per $15,000 of funds provided.
The mission of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is to facilitate change through the widespread development and use of innovative technologies to improve the State’s energy, economic, and environmental wellbeing.
NYSERDA’s various programs (such as residential, commercial, transportation, environmental) outline broad energy and environmental challenges, and then the Authority publicly requests proposals, from any private or institutional entity, to submit project plans addressing those issues.
NYSERDA accepts applications for its programs through New York State's Consolidated Funding Application. Those companies interested in participating in NYSERDA's New Construction Program, Existing Facilities Program, Industrial and Process Efficiency Program, and FlexTech can register / login to the NY Works website to apply.
For additional information on the following programs, please click on the links below:
Existing Facilities Program - http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/existing-facilities
FlexTech - http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/flextech
Industrial and Process Efficiency Program - http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ipe
New Construction Program - http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/new-construction
For expert assistance on any of these programs, contact Rob Oram.
