Emergency Round of Grants Announced To Support City Of Albany Small Business Owners

June 1, 2020

Grants To Support Businesses That Sustained Damage Over The Weekend With Prioritization of Minority Or Women-Owned Businesses

View This Announcement’s Press Release Here

In response to the damage done to numerous City businesses, applications will be made available as part of an emergency response using the City of Albany Small Business Façade Improvement and Retail Grant programs administered by Capitalize Albany Corporation. Application fees and investment match requirements will be waived to ensure there are no impediments to local businesses most at risk — minority or women-owned businesses and those that were directly impacted by recent vandalism and looting.

This round of programming can provide grants up to $10,000 to small businesses and/or commercial property owners with an existing small business tenant for exterior renovations or repairs as part of this emergency response. Local business owners are encouraged to contact Capitalize Albany as other improvements may also be considered for support. Examples of exterior renovations may include, but not be limited to: Repair of signs, lighting, windows, awnings, storefronts and entrances, doors, brickwork, painting and repair of decorative details. Additional details will be made available this week, along with the posting of a program application and guidelines on the Corporation’s website at www.CapitalizeAlbany.com/grants.

Capitalize Albany was able to respond to local needs and make this funding available quickly by adapting existing capital improvement programs administered by Capitalize Albany and made possible with support from the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation and the Albany Community Development Agency that had been put on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the City’s request, Capitalize Albany Corporation has also established a Go Fund Me campaign to allow the greater Albany community to contribute to the façade program. More details on how to contribute can be found on the Capitalize Albany website.

To obtain an application, learn more about the program’s guidelines or answers to general questions, business owners can contact the City’s economic development organization, Capitalize Albany Corporation at [email protected], through Virginia Rawlins at 518-434-2532 x 25 or visit www.CapitalizeAlbany.com/grants.