Suffolk County businesses, urban centers, and nonprofit organizations, including arts and cultural organizations, can now access grants to help them grow. Our office provides assistance with Small Business Administration (SBA) services, including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery. We can also connect you to our partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that are dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. The site will also provide an opportunity for local businesses to participate in the procurement of services and goods from Suffolk County. The Department of the Treasury has opened the application process for the Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP), a new initiative designed to support access to capital in communities that have been traditionally excluded from the financial system and have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Nassau and Suffolk counties have New York State small business development centers on the State University of New York campuses: one at Farmingdale State College and one at Stony Brook University. Suffolk County has partnered with Family Service League, OLA of Eastern Long Island and Nassau Suffolk Law Services to help residents apply for ERAP funding through New York State in the cities of Smithtown, Riverhead, Easthampton, Southampton, Southold and Shelter Island. There is also the Long Island Regional Economic Council, which works with companies to provide programs for new facilities, relocations, expansions, and new international markets. The website, which was created after the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Legislator Anker, will serve as a business development needs and services center by providing important information on how to start a business, what county, state and federal assistance and pandemic relief programs are available to business owners, and resources to help established businesses innovate and grow. In addition, SCORE has an office in Hauppauge and there are community development organizations (Long Island Small Business Assistance Corporation (LISBAC) and Community Development Corporation of Long Island (CDCLI), for example) as well as mission-based lending organizations such as Pursuit and New York Business Development Corporation.
Furthermore, the County is developing a Business Development Office which will help business owners coordinate the various permitting processes required by the Suffolk County Departments of Health Services and Public Works as well as any other state, federal or local agency. The grants available through our office are designed to help small businesses in Suffolk County succeed. We understand that small businesses are essential to our economy and we want to ensure that they have access to all of the resources they need. Our team is here to provide guidance on how to apply for grants and other forms of assistance. We can also provide advice on how to best utilize these funds so that businesses can maximize their potential. We are committed to helping small businesses in Suffolk County thrive.
We can also provide advice on how to best utilize these funds so that businesses can maximize their potential. Our goal is to unlock opportunities for small businesses in Suffolk County so that they can continue to be an integral part of our economy.
