Objective

ESD offers grants in an effort to offset the costs of diversification, ultimately helping to ensure the resilience of the New York State warfighting supply chain to fluctuations in federal defense spending. 

Overview

Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation currently has two open funding opportunities for NYS defense manufacturers:

1. Defense Industry Assistance Grants

ESD offers grants for collaborations between non-profit organizations and small or mid-sized defense industry suppliers or early-stage defense focused companies, working together on eligible diversification projects. These grants are available for projects through which these companies will diversify their markets.  This is a competitive grant process.  Selected recipients can receive up to $50,000 towards their project.

Deadlines for 2018 submissions are:
August 17, 2018
October 24, 2018

2. RFP ESD 2018 Defense Diversification Assistance

An ESD RFP is open for small or mid-sized defense industry suppliers or early-stage defense focused companies working together with a non-profit organization on a two stage diversification project. These grants will be awarded in two stages; Stage I- Defense Diversification Planning and Strategy, and; Stage II-  Defense Diversification Plan Implementation.   This is a competitive grant process.  Selected recipients can receive up to $70,000 total towards their two-stage project; up to $20,000 in Stage I and up to $50,000 in Stage II.

Deadline for Stage I submissions is:
September 10, 2018

Eligibility

Eligibility for Defense Industry Assistance Grants:

New York State not-for-profit organizations, including institutions of higher education together, with their partner, a New York State small or medium sized business that meets one of the criteria below.

• Is a New York State company funded through the Department of Defense under the Small Business Innovation Research program or Small Business Technology Transfer program;
• Eligible projects include those that assist such a manufacturer or early-stage company to diversify its existing or prospective customer base. Such projects may include but are not limited to new market identification and strategies, export training and services, product development or redesign, and training of workers as necessary to support entry into a new market.

Further eligibility requirements are defined in the grant guidelines below.

Eligibility for RFP – ESD 2018 Defense Diversification Assistance-Stage I:

New York State small or medium sized business that meets one of the criteria below and who partner with a New York State not-for-profit organizations, including institutions of higher education.

• Is a New York State company funded through the Department of Defense under the Small Business Innovation Research program or Small Business Technology Transfer program;
• Eligible projects include those that will be focused on diversification research, planning, and strategy.  Projects may consist of those that assist defense supply chain companies or defense-focused early-stage companies with identifying opportunities and needs aimed at diversifying their existing or prospective customer base toward commercial markets or non-U.S. defense markets.  The applicant must clearly demonstrate how the collaborating non-profit’s assets and/or services will be leveraged to assist the company in its diversification efforts.
• Eligibility for RFP- ESD 2018 Defense Diversification Assistance-Stage II: Please note only selected recipients for Stage I grant funding will be eligible to submit proposals for Stage II funding.

Further eligibility requirements are defined in the RFP below.

How to Apply

Read the applicable guidelines or RFP for the funding opportunity.  Download, complete, and submit the application with all required attachments. When uploading a budget, the template provided is the only accepted format. If you have questions or would like to speak with program staff to discuss potential grant projects, please email defense-industry-assistance@esd.ny.gov.

Program Information

• Guidelines for Defense Industry Assistance Grants
• Application Form for Defense Industry Assistance Grants
• Budget template

*Internet Explorer is required to complete and submit the online application form.  If you do not have access to Internet Explorer, the form can be downloaded to your computer, completed and emailed to NYSTARSupport@esd.ny.gov.

2018 Defense Diversification Assistance RFP Information

• RFP: ESD 2018 Defense Diversification Assistance – please follow this link to access all documents for this funding opportunity
• Completed Stage I applications should be sent via email to defense-industry-assistance@esd.ny.gov with the subject line:  RFP: ESD 2018 Defense Diversification Assistance Stage I.  (If sending via mail carrier, please see RFP for instructions.)