Lumber City Development Corporation is now accepting applicants for the CDBG Microenterprise Grant Program.

General Criteria

  • All applicants must provide a detailed business plan and complete 3 entrepreneurial training classes through the Small Business Development Center at SUNY Niagara.
  • Request business assistance here!
  • The maximum Microenterprise Grant request is $35,000. Please be aware that this a reimbursement and you must submit detailed receipts and documentation, you will then be reimbursed up to 75% of your total award.  For example, a business owner purchases a computer for $1,000 and provides proper documentation, LCDC then reimburses the owner $7,500.
  • Only purchases made on or after your approval date can be counted towards reimbursement.
  • Only jobs created made on or after your approval date can be counted.

 

Business Eligibility Criteria

  • Businesses must have 5 or fewer employees (including the owner) in order to be eligible for application.
  • Businesses must be located in North Tonawanda and remain there for at least 2 years beyond grant approval.
  • No mobile/"roving" or online businesses will be approved, brick-and-mortar businesses in North Tonawanda only. 

 

Income Eligibility Criteria 

  • The main goal of the CDBG program is to encourage new job creation, job retention, and on the job training for low-moderate-income residents.

  • In addition to the business eligibility criteria, the business’ owner must also meet income eligibility qualifications as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  An eligible applicant must have an income that is either at or below the following incomes levels based on the number of persons residing in their household. You can pre-verify here, however upon applying you will need to provide the past three (3) years' tax returns and any other income verification for our staff to review.

  • If you are above the low-moderate-income limits, you must create a job/make a job avaliable to a low-moderate-income individual by providing on the job training.

 

Eligible Uses of Funding

Grant funding may be used for the following purposes:

  • Acquisition of business equipment
  • Purchase of inventory
  • Necessary fixed assets (machinery, IT equipment)
  • Professional services including marketing and business promotion
  • Technological infrastructure and upgrades
  • Entrepreneurial training
  • Operational expenses including payroll, utilities, rent/mortgage (for commercial locations)  

 

Grant funding may NOT be used for the following:

  • Real property improvements or rehabilitation including signage
  • Utilities, rent/mortgage for residential or home based business occupancies
  • Repayment of existing debt
  • Reimbursement of costs incurred prior to grant approval
  • Vehicles
  • Pre-paid rent

Please note:

  • Your application will first go through Lumber City Development Corporation Committee review and then full Board review for official approval. 
  • To help further promote the economic development goals of the City of North Tonawanda, the following priorities have been established and grant funding priority will be given to eligible microenterprise projects which meet these priorities during the review process:
    • Businesses geographically located on Oliver Street
    • Businesses that further promote Downtown Development
    • High Impact Businesses- businesses that will create a large number of jobs and/or fill vacant areas of the City.
    • Essential Goods and Services Businesses- businesses that provide essential goods
    • and services that are currently lacking to a specific neighborhood.

 

 

Click here to complete the pre-screen application.

 

Questions?

Email- [email protected] / [email protected]

Call- 716-695-8580