Seneca Falls officials are seeking interest from new and existing small businesses as they prepare to pursue funding for a Microenterprise Assistance Program that could provide grants of $5,000 to $35,000.
The Seneca Falls Development Corporation will hold a free information meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Seneca Falls Recreation Center, 35 Water St. No reservation is required, and attendance is not required to seek assistance if the town receives funding.
The proposed program would use funding from the New York State Homes and Community Renewal Community Development Block Grant program. It is designed to support new small businesses and existing businesses seeking to expand while emphasizing entrepreneurship and jobs for people with low to moderate incomes.
The development corporation is collecting Grant Participation Interest Forms to document local demand and determine how much funding to request. Submitting a form does not guarantee an award, and businesses would have to complete a formal application if the grant is approved.
Awards would require a match and reimbursement
Businesses could request between $5,000 and $35,000 and would be responsible for a 10% equity match. The program would operate as a reimbursement grant, requiring recipients to spend the full award amount plus the match before seeking reimbursement.
For example, a business awarded $10,000 would need to submit at least $11,000 in eligible receipts before receiving the $10,000 reimbursement. The program materials estimate recipients would have about one year to complete eligible spending.
Grant money could cover rent, mortgage payments, utilities, inventory, marketing, advertising, consultants, small equipment used by employees, furniture, fixtures, decor, supplies and other business-operation materials. Construction expenses, including materials and labor, would not qualify.
Businesses planning renovation or construction would need an environmental review even though grant funds could not pay for that work. Award recipients would also have to complete a small-business training course.
Eligibility depends on size, ownership or job creation
Eligible businesses must be located or operate in Seneca Falls and have no more than five employees, counting owners and part-time and full-time workers. Industry, retail, service and tourism businesses may qualify.
A startup must be new or have operated for fewer than six months when formal applications open. It must be owned by a person who meets low- to moderate-income standards or create jobs for people who meet those standards.
An existing business must be owned by a person who meets the income standards or create at least one full-time-equivalent job, with most new positions filled by or made available to people with low to moderate incomes. Previous participants in the program must create at least one new full-time-equivalent job regardless of the owner's income.
Formal applicants may be asked for cost verification, a business plan, current and prior-year profit-and-loss statements and balance sheets, projected cash flow or profit-and-loss information, and a 2025 tax return when seeking low- to moderate-income designation.
Seneca Falls and the development corporation previously secured and administered a microenterprise grant that provided $210,000 to local businesses, created jobs and filled two vacant storefronts. A follow-up meeting would be announced if the 2026 application is approved.
Program details and interest forms are available at senecafallsgrant.com. Questions about eligibility or requirements may be directed to development corporation Director Greg Zellers at senecafallsdev@gmail.com.
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