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NYS Small Business Seed Funding Grant Program 
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The New York State Seed Funding Grant Program (the “Program”) provides grants of up to $25,000 to operating New York State based early-stage small and micro businesses, and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations.

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The grants will be flexible and can be used for business operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, and PPE expenses incurred between September 1, 2018, and January 1, 2022.

The Applicants must have started operations on or after September 1, 2018, been operational for at least six months before an application is submitted, and have between $5,000 and $1 million in gross receipts.

Due to the high volume of applications received, new applications are currently not being accepted. Applications that have already been submitted will continue to be reviewed.

Eligible Business Qualifications

Eligible Applicants must:

  1. Be incorporated in New York State or licensed or registered to do business in New York State and must be resident in the State of New York;

  2. Be a currently viable Micro-business, Small business, or For-profit arts and cultural organization including independent arts contractors that started business on September 1, 2018 or later and has been operational for at least six months before an application is submitted;

  3. Have between five thousand dollars ($5,000) and one million dollars ($1,000,000) in gross receipts per annum as reflected on their most recent Federal Business Tax Return (line 1a, IRS Form 1120 or 1065; line 1 IRS Form 1040 Schedule C) or be able to demonstrate five thousand dollars ($5,000) in business expenses for businesses that have not yet filed a Federal Business Tax Return;

  4. Be in substantial compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, codes and requirements;

  5. Not owe any federal, state or local taxes, or have an approved repayment, deferral plan, or agreement with appropriate federal, state, and local taxing authorities;

  6. Not qualify for business assistance grant programs under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 or any other available federal COVID-19 economic recovery or business assistance grant programs, including loans forgiven under the federal Paycheck Protection Program, or are unable to obtain sufficient business assistance from such federal programs.*

    * Eligible Applicants may have received or been awarded the following federal assistance:

    • Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling $250,000 or less.

    • Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for COVID-19 of any size.

    • COVID-19 EIDL Advance Grant of any size.

    • COVID-19 EIDL Supplemental Targeted Advance Grant of any size.

    • SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant of any size.

    • Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grant of any size.

  7. Did not qualify for business assistance under the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program.

We know navigating different COVID-19 relief programs can be challenging. The Pace University SBDC is here to help. Contact us to schedule a no-cost, one-on-one business counseling session.

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