Strategic Planning and Feasibility Studies Program

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Objective

ESD’s Strategic Planning and Feasibility Studies Program promotes economic development in the State of New York by encouraging economic and employment opportunities and stimulating development of communities and urban areas.

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Overview

Program funding is available for working capital grants of up to $100,000 each to support 1) strategic development plans for a city, county, or municipality or a significant part thereof and 2) feasibility studies for site(s) or facility(ies) assessment and planning. This is a 50/50 matching grant. For example, a $100,000 investment could receive up to a $50,000 matching grant from ESD.

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Eligibility

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

  • Cities
  • Counties
  • Towns
  • Villages
  • Business Improvement Districts
  • Local Development Corporations
  • Not-for-profit Economic Development Organizations*

* If awarded funding, prior to ESD Directors’ approval and execution of a contract with ESD, a not-for-profit corporation must be registered and up-to-date with filings with the New York State Office of the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and the New York State Office of the State Comptroller’s VendRep System and must be prequalified in the New York State Grants Gateway.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES / PROGRAM BENEFIT REQUIREMENTS

Projects generally fall into two categories and should focus on economic development purposes, such as increasing viability of existing businesses, stimulating new enterprises, and analyzing potential development opportunities or obstacles to development. 

  1. Preparation and development of strategic development plans for a city, county or municipality or a significant part thereof. Applicants should clearly define the project scope and provide details as to the intent of the new or updated plan they are seeking to develop. Applicants should also describe how the study aligns with economic development priorities in the region.
  2. Feasibility studies and preliminary planning studies to assess a particular site(s) or facility(ies) for any economic development purpose other than residential, though mixed-use facilities with a residential component are allowed. Applicants should clearly define the study scope and provide details on what the results will provide and how the study aligns with economic development priorities in the region.

Priority will be given to projects located in Pro Housing Certified Communities

The Pro-Housing Certified Communities Program was created to incentivize local governments that are committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and is administered by NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). HCR will review and certify communities who have taken steps and are committed to increasing their housing stock. 

Priority will be given to projects located in Highly Distressed Areas (Census Tracts)

Below is the definition of communities considered to be economically distressed along with a link to a map to search for a project location to identify its distress level. 

Economically Distressed Area (Census Tract) Map