GRANT PROGRAMS & BUSINESS RESOURCES
Made possible with support from the City of Albany, City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation and the Albany Community Development Agency, programming in 2023 is poised to assist new businesses, strengthen existing businesses, support ongoing post-COVID-19 recovery efforts, boost the City of Albany’s commercial districts and commercial corridors throughout its neighborhoods. Please explore the available programs below.
- Small Business Building Improvement Grant (BIG) Program (New in 2023)
- Amplify Albany Grant Program
- Downtown Albany Retail Grant Program
- Neighborhood Retail Grant Program
- City of Albany Small Business Facade Improvement Program (Not currently accepting applications)
Contact Our Programming Staff To Apply Or Learn More
E: Development@CapitalizeAlbany.com | P: (518) 434-2532
Small Business Building Improvement Grant Program
Full Program Details, Application Information Available Here
Round 1 Application Process Now Open
Applications for Round I of the BIG Program will be accepted as outlined below:
Step 1: Intake and Eligibility Form
The Small Business Building Improvement Grant (BIG) Program provides access to critical funding necessary for aspiring entrepreneurs and new businesses to get off the ground in the City of Albany and for existing Albany businesses to grow.
Made possible by the City of Albany, the BIG Program will make available flexible, recoverable, reimbursable grants to eligible applicants with qualified projects to assist with costs associated with capital investments. Projects may include but are not limited to interior and exterior renovations preparing a commercial space for an eligible use, and/or machinery and equipment purchases.
Grant awards will range from $1,500 to $4,999 in microgrants or from $5,000 up to $25,000 under two flexible funding tracks.
- Step 1: Intake and Eligibility Forms will be accepted from January 11, 2023 until 11:59PM on February 10, 2023.
- Upon determination of eligibility, applicants will receive a hyperlink to Step 2.
- Step 2: Project Questionnaires and Required Documents will be accepted from January 17, 2023 until 11:59PM on February 17, 2023.
Join the Capitalize Albany team for two upcoming webinars discussing the BIG Program and guiding applicants through the application process:
Webinar #1: BIG Program Overview (January 18, 2023 11:00AM)
Webinar #2: Application Process (January 25, 2023 11:00AM)
More details, including Program Guidelines and application inf ormation, available here.
Amplify Albany Grant Program
Full Program Details, Application Available Here
The Amplify Albany Grant Program was designed to provide resources for the implementation of exciting activities and events that leverage the City of Albany’s most unique and strongest assets. The program is enhancing the City of Albany’s commercial districts and businesses by providing grant funding to non-profits, businesses and other organizations that will create and execute short and medium term authentic, unique and buzz-worthy promotional projects, events and programming.
Downtown Albany Retail Grant Program
Full Program Details, Application Information Available Here
The Downtown Albany Retail Grant Program assists businesses new to Albany to establish a downtown retail location as well as existing City businesses that want to expand by adding a downtown location. Existing retail locations in core areas of downtown Albany may also be enhanced under this program. Grant funding can assist with new location renovation and fit-up costs or with exterior improvements to properties.
Neighborhood Retail Grant Program
Full Program Details, Application Information Available Here
The Neighborhood Retail Grant Program is attracting businesses interested in establishing a new Albany storefront location, and will enhance existing retail businesses in strategically identified neighborhood commercial corridors located throughout the City of Albany. Grant funding can assist with new location renovation and fit-up costs or with exterior improvements to properties. Eligible projects must be in one of the identified commercial corridors within the West Hill, Arbor Hill, North Albany, and South End neighborhoods, four of the Albany Community Development Agency’s Neighborhood Strategy Areas.
City Of Albany Small Business Facade Improvement Program
Full Program Details Available Here. The most recent application funding window opened February 11th, 2022 as part of the fifth-round Program. This program is not currently accepting new applications.
The program is a matching grant program designed to assist small businesses throughout the City of Albany, providing business owners the opportunity to reinvest in their properties. The program can provide matching grants to small businesses for exterior renovations.
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