SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS
For ‘Main Street’ and ‘Agri-Business’ Enterprises in Sullivan
MONTICELLO – A new Sullivan County grant program will provide funds for small businesses that are connected to agriculture or are located in downtown areas of villages or hamlets. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 3.
The Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) is made possible with an $185,000 grant from the NYS Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. It is being administered by the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management.
“The program will provide grants between $5,000 and $35,000 for business start-ups or existing enterprises with five or fewer employees. It targets two types of small businesses: ‘Main Street’ goods and services located within downtown areas of village or hamlet business districts, and ‘Agri-Business’ enterprises are farms, agriculture-support businesses, and businesses that process local farm-based products,” said County Manager David Fanslau.
Additional funding is available through the county’s Main Street Revolving Loan Fund and Agri-Business Revolving Loan Fund. “The goal is to help bridge the gap for small businesses looking to get started and to take advantage of other funding and support programs that are available,” said Planning Commissioner Luiz Aragon.
The MAP is a collaboration among the Division of Planning, the Sullivan County Center for Workforce Development, Sullivan Renaissance, Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce and Liberty Community Development Corporation.
Conditions of the grant include requiring participating businesses to contribute at least 10% of the cost of the project. Also, businesses must create at least one new job that can be offered to or made available to persons from low or moderate-income households. New positions created must start by September 2013.
To receive the grant businesses must also participate in an Entrepreneurial Training Program. Chamber President and CEO Terri Ward said, “The partners have worked hard to assemble a roster of trainers and presentations meant to benefit small businesses in every stage of their development. The classes explore topics from developing a business plan to marketing your product, financing your plans, and finding, hiring and managing employees.”
The deadline for grant applications is Friday, February 3, 2012. Sullivan County Planning will hold public information sessions about the program on Thursday, January 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the County Government Center in Monticello and on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. in the Callicoon Town Hall.
For more information or to request an application, contact the Sullivan County Division of Planning at 845-807-0541 or planning@co.sullivan.ny.us.