Support Agencies
New York State
New York State through the Empire State Development Corporation can offer a variety of flexible financing incentives for new and expanding businesses tailored to fit the size and scope of your project.

Financial Assistance Can be Provided for:

• Acquisition of land and buildings or machinery and equipment
• Construction or renovation of buildings to house business operations including leasehold improvements
• Construction or improvement of infrastructure required for new location or expansion
• Working capital
• Employee training
• Expanding export opportunities
• Productivity enhancement assistance

Financial Assistance May Be Made Available Through:

• Direct loans and/or grants to businesses for a portion of the cost of the eligible project(s)
• Interest rate subsidies in the form of a grant or linked deposit with the lending institution, to reduce the cost of borrowing from private sector financial institutions
• Loans and grants for working capital assistance in specialized situations
• Infrastructure assistance in the form of a loan and grant combination for a portion of the cost of the infrastructure project to be implemented
• Power for jobs, low-cost power for expanding jobs

Onondaga County Office of Economic Development
The Onondaga County Office of Economic Development is responsible for the efforts to expand and attract business in Onondaga County. The office offers a team-based support system that has developed strong partnerships with the public and private sectors. Whether you are considering moving a business into the County, growing your existing business, or starting your own business, we can help.

To facilitate the goal of business growth, the Office of Economic Development has management responsibilities of the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency, the Onondaga County Empire Zone Administrative Board, and the Onondaga County Economic Development Corporation; publishes Growth Directions (2.7M) - a helpful guide to starting your own business; manages a Business Retention and Expansion program; works with local agencies to support Workforce Development and other initiatives; administers the Syracuse Foreign Trade Zone; and works with the Syracuse Growth Council to implement the business attraction marketing plan.

For more information on the Office, click contact us, or download the OCED office brochure (455K).

City of Syracuse
The City of Syracuse Department of Community and Economic Development offers a number of financing and business assistance programs including:

• Syracuse Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) Direct loans of up to 50% of project cost up to $50,000
• Urban Business Opportunity Center (UBOC) loans of up to $10,000 for high risk/start up ventures (working capital available)
• Industrial Development Agency
• Taxable and Tax-exempt Industrial Revenue Bonds
• PILOT agreements
• Tax exemptions
• Flexible Development Fund Loans for major development projects
• Regulatory and Technical Assistance
• Economic Development Zone Administration (New York State Empire Zone)

Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of services from business start-up advice through its Entrepreneurial Council to financial assistance through the Greater Syracuse Business Development Corporation (GSBDC). The GSBDC is a private, not-for-profit corporation managed by the Chamber. It offers a variety of funding programs targeted to business start-ups, expanding local businesses, and business retention and attraction projects. Although many of its programs target fixed-asset-related projects such as realty acquisition of construction and machinery purchases, working capital funding is also available.

The Central New York Technology Development Organization
The Central New York Technology Development Organization (CNYTDO) is a Syracuse-based not-for-profit corporation, partially funded by the MEP, and by Empire State Development through the New York State Science and Technology Foundation, whose mission is to accomplish economic development through the support of high-tech and manufacturing entrepreneurs and businesses in Central New York.

If you are a technology-based entrepreneur, a technology-based or manufacturing start-up company or a small- to medium- sized manufacturer your TDO may be able assist you.

• A Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) outreach program assisting companies and individuals apply for federal research grants.
• An Industrial Technology Council (ITC) providing access to State and Federal research, introductions to sources of funding, business development assistance, business plan reviews, etc.
• An Industrial Technology Extension Service (ITES) providing direct assistance to help manufacturers improve competitiveness
• The New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NYMEP), partially funded by NIST, providing a national network of resources MEP to manufactures.

Small Business Development Center
The Onondaga Small Business Development Center offers free and confidential counseling to people in business or thinking about going into business in a broad range of management areas. Certified business advisors can assist with business plan development, record keeping, market plan analysis, business growth strategy, linkage to financing and more.

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