4.19.21 BNP Advocacy Alert – COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program
Blog Categories
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
Policy focus: Power Trends Report underscores energy concerns
The New York Independent System Operator released its annual Power Trends report, which details the state of New York’s electric grid. The report’s findings are concerning and underscore the need for a more sensible approach to climate and energy policy.
Where the candidates stand: Key economic issues in the Buffalo mayoral race
On Thursday, May 1, the BNP hosted a Democratic Mayoral Candidate Forum. For the first time since 2006, the City of Buffalo is electing a new mayor. The office has drawn considerable interest, leading to a crowded field of candidates running in the June 24 primary election. To help BNP members meet the candidates and learn where they stand on the issues facing our regional economy, the BNP invited the top three fundraising candidates to participate.
Empowering Young Professionals to step into advocacy
How does business advocacy actually work? And why should young professionals take interest?
Those were the driving questions behind Be The Change, a high-energy informational event hosted by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Young Professionals (YP) group. Held at The Establishment, this members-only session gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at how business advocacy shapes the regional economy, and how emerging leaders can play a role in that impact.
CEOs Speak: A cautious rise in optimism
At our recent CEOs Speak event—the only forum in Buffalo Niagara showcasing the results from the annual Upstate New York Business Leader Survey—local leaders delivered a powerful message: optimism is cautiously rising, but government intervention remains a persistent obstacle to regional economic growth.