Grants

Grants can be extremely elusive, and many are misled to their availability. Be advised that the vast majority of grants issued in the country today are issued within government and not-for-profit arenas, and generally NOT for startup businesses, home buyers, or minority-owned businesses. A very limited number of extremely competitive grants exists in the high-tech, biotech, energy savings, and recycling industries.

Please be aware of potential scams in the self-proclaimed “grant circuit.” Also see the following sites, with articles cautioning entrepreneurs about books, conferences, and seminars that “promise” grants for a myriad of uses, but require an initial purchase, or non-refundable cash upfront (ranging from $30 - $1000+), with NO GUARANTEED funding.

• Read online book reviews from people who have purchased the books you are considering

• Products of this kind may be useful in locating organizations providing business and technical assistance (such as the SBDC), but it is information the Small Business Administration has made readily available to you for free.

That said, below is a list of actual grant sources, including information on the issuing organization, the amount, and the requirements for applying. This list is by no means exhaustive, but rather an introduction into the uses for which grants are available.

• For a database of federal and state assistance programs, you may want to check:
• New York State Library , which list resources for grants available and organizations you can reach for further assistance.
• For workbooks, guides, and additional information on securing and writing grants, visit the Candid website .

ORGANIZATION	PURPOSE	QUALIFICATION	AMOUNT	CONTACT
New York State Department of Labor	Work Opportunity Tax Credit/ Welfare-to-Work	Must be used to hire certain workers (welfare-to-work, etc.)	Up to $2,400 per employee	516-934-8558
Nassau County Economic Development	Brownfields/ Worker Training	Restoring unusable property in Nassau/ Training workers	Varies	516-571-0415
PSEG (LIPA)	Energy Issues	Special uses: air conditioning, large facilities, light bulb rebate, consultation	Varies	(1-800-692-2626
Empire State Development	Economic Development	Various programs available - contact for more information	Varies	631-435-0717
US Department of Energy: Office of Industrial Technologies	Promote Innovation	Inventions, must address industry-specified properties	$40,000 or $250,000	Website
ACCES-VR	Business Startup	Must be disabled, ACCES-VR determined	Up to $11,000	631-952-6357
Small Business Innovation Research	Promote Innovation	Must be in technology research and training and link w/ nonprofit facility	Up to $100,000	Website
Energy Products Center	Energy Efficiency	Technology for energy efficiency	Varies	518-862-1090
Office of Children and Family Services	Licensed Child Care Providers	Must be for staff development or health & safety supplies	$500-$2000	631-240-2560 212-383-1415
Child Care Council	Startup Day Care	Must be home-based (family & group providers)	Not funds: hard goods and courses	516-358-9250 631-462-0303
US Department of Agriculture	Food and Agriculture Development	Must be for innovations in food products, use RFP process	Varies	518-457-2713

Helpful Grant Links

Some of the links below are general, NOT necessarily direct sources of grants.

• Day Care: 
  • Office of Children and Family Services
  • Child Care Council of Nassau
  • Child Care Council of Suffolk
• Department of Labor
• HUD
• Federal
• Research and Innovation
  • LIFT Communities
  • Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
• Specialized Grant Programs: 
  • Trickle Up
  • Community Development Corporation of Long Island (CDCLI)