New York's COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program to Begin Accepting Applications

Speaker Carl Heastie, Small Business Committee Chair Al Stirpe and Economic Development Committee Chair Harry Bronson announced today that New York will begin accepting grant applications for its COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program on June 10^th, 2021. The Small Business Recovery Program was established earlier this year as part of the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021-22 Budget, and is administered by the New York State Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC). 

“As our great state begins to reopen for business, it is important we not forget the financial toll this devastating pandemic has had on so many of our small businesses and cultural institutions,” said Speaker Heastie. “It is why we in the Assembly Majority fought so hard earlier this year to ensure that the state’s budget include this critical funding to help struggling small businesses and organizations get back on their feet.”

“The impact the pandemic has had on our small businesses has been extraordinary,” said Assemblymember Stirpe.“As our economy begins to recover, it is vital struggling small businesses receive all the help they can get. The COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was created to help do just that.”

“The economic fallout from COVID-19 reached far and wide presenting an immense hardship for so many small businesses, including for-profit arts and cultural organizations,” said Assemblymember Bronson.“The funding set aside for these targeted grants will offer a measure of relief and assistance to so many small businesses hard-hit by the pandemic.”

Applications will be accepted beginning on June 10^th.Those eligible to apply include small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations who began operation on or before March 1, 2019 and continue to be in operation as of the date of their application, even if they were shuttered due to COVID-19 restrictions.Eligible applicants will be required to show loss of gross receipts or other economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols which resulted in business modifications, interruptions, or closures.

More information on the COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, applicant qualifications and where to apply can be found at https://nysmallbusinessrecovery.com/.