STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1293
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. FUNKE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Commerce, Economic Devel-
opment and Small Business
AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to a New York
state community solutions matching grant program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. (a) New York state boasts
2 a diverse array of colleges and universities that enhance community
3 life, promote economic opportunity, improve health and safety and ensure
4 quality education. The New York state community solutions matching grant
5 program will serve as a catalyst for partnerships between institutions
6 of higher education and communities to solve community problems through
7 research, outreach activities and the exchange of information. These
8 institutions of higher education will help to address the challenges
9 facing New York state communities and provide critical services and
10 programs to assist the broad needs of New Yorkers.
11 (b) Research and outreach activities assisted under this program shall
12 focus on problems associated with, but not limited to, housing, economic
13 development, neighborhood revitalization, infrastructure, health care,
14 job training, education, planning, community organizing and other areas
15 deemed appropriate by the empire state development corporation. Funds
16 received under this program shall be used for new and innovative
17 programs that will address the problems identified in the eligible
18 applicant's application or to expand and grow existing programs run by
19 the applicant that are already addressing challenges and needs in their
20 community.
21 § 2. The economic development law is amended by adding a new article
22 23 to read as follows:
23 ARTICLE 23
24 NEW YORK STATE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM
25 Section 447. Definitions.
26 § 448. Fund allocation and grant awards.
27 § 449. Funding criteria.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07048-01-9
S. 1293 2
1 § 450. Application and approval process.
2 § 447. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
3 have the following meanings:
4 1. Eligible applicant. The term "eligible applicant" shall mean every
5 SUNY, CUNY and private, non-profit college or university in New York
6 state.
7 2. Non-state funds. The term "non-state funds" shall mean any funds,
8 except state funds, accessible by the eligible applicant for the project
9 including, but not limited to, federal funds, local funds, private
10 funds, and in-kind donations.
11 3. Corporation. The term "corporation" shall mean the New York state
12 empire state development corporation.
13 § 448. Fund allocation and grant awards. 1. Within amounts appropri-
14 ated or otherwise available therefor, the corporation shall develop and
15 administer a New York state community solutions matching grant program,
16 which shall provide assistance in the form of grants for reasonable and
17 necessary expenses to eligible applicants for proposed projects that
18 address significant community needs. Eligible applicants shall be eligi-
19 ble for matching grants up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars.
20 § 449. Funding criteria. Eligible applicants shall provide an equal
21 matching non-state fund contribution for each state dollar received.
22 § 450. Application and approval process. 1. Applications for matching
23 grants pursuant to this article shall be developed, reviewed and evalu-
24 ated pursuant to eligibility requirements and criteria set forth in this
25 article. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regu-
26 lations pursuant thereto.
27 2. Each eligible applicant shall include in its application the
28 following:
29 (a) a statement that the applicant has the resources available to fund
30 the proposed project;
31 (b) a statement describing how the proposed project will address
32 significant community needs and produce measurable results;
33 (c) a statement that illustrates the role played by any non-profit
34 partners, students, faculty, staff or other interested community members
35 in supporting the proposed project;
36 (d) a statement discussing the strategies the applicant will employ to
37 build long-term, mutually-beneficial community partnerships and explain
38 efforts to enlist other collaborators, including but not limited to
39 businesses, civic organizations, and/or government agencies;
40 (e) a statement detailing the project, including anticipated timeline
41 and project costs, including the sources and uses of funds; and
42 (f) a statement outlining the type or types of non-state funds to be
43 used and the source or sources of such funds.
44 3. Upon receipt of a matching grant application the corporation shall
45 review such application for technical sufficiency and compliance with
46 the application criteria in this article. If necessary, the corporation
47 may request additional information from eligible applicants before
48 making a determination on the awarding of matching grants under this
49 article.
50 § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
51 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
52 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
53 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
54 to be made and completed on or before such date.
