Skip to content

Back to Our Blog

4.19.21 BNP Advocacy Alert – COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program

Blog Categories

Kristine Bieniek

April 19, 2021

 

4.19.21 BNP Advocacy Alert – COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program  

As a part of this year’s New York State budget, $800 million was allocated to a new COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership wanted to alert you of this opportunity so that your business can take advantage as soon as the application becomes available.

The program was designed for businesses with fewer than 100 employees and for-profit independent arts & cultural organizations. To be eligible for funding, you must have been operational since March 1, 2019 and have experienced revenue loss or economic hardship during the pandemic. You may be eligible for this program even if you did not qualify for other sources of federal aid earlier in the pandemic.

Grant funds can be used for:

  • Payroll
  • Rent/Mortgage
  • Property & School Taxes
  • Insurance
  • Utilities
  • PPE & other COVID-related supplies
  • HVAC
  • Machinery & other equipment

 

The program will be administered by Empire State Development. ESD has not yet released the application or more specific program guidelines, but BNP will make you aware as soon as more information becomes available.

Related Posts

BNP Hosts County Executive Candidates

By communications@thepartnership.org | September 27, 2023

In preparation for the 2023 elections, the BNP hosted an Erie County Executive Candidate Forum. Both candidates for Erie County’s highest office – incumbent Mark Poloncarz and challenger Chrissy Casilio – were given 45 minutes to address BNP members in a guided discussion.

Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse Region Can Become America’s Semiconductor Superhighway

By sgrimm@thepartnership.org | August 18, 2023

After years of relentless advocacy to bolster Upstate NY’s innovation and manufacturing industries, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins announced the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region have joined forces with a proposal to become a federally-designated Tech Hub in the first-of-its-kind nationwide competition created in his CHIPS & Science Bill.

How the U.S. Is Closing the Door to Top Talent

By communications@thepartnership.org | August 17, 2023

The BNP organized a Capital Conversations event as part of our Government Affairs series to examine the workings of the H-1B program and explore potential reforms that could strengthen our regional economy.

ECIDA Creates New MWBE Incentive

By jveronica@thepartnership.org | May 4, 2023

The Erie County Industrial Development Agency recently approved a new incentive for MWBE subcontractor utilization, known as the Economic Inclusion Program.