Addendum I - Q&A Matrix as of 12.09.22.pdf

COMMUNITY & REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Release Date: October 31, 2022

The following is a list of responses to questions submitted by prospective respondents to NYSTAR RFA for Community & Regional Partnership. A copy of the RFA is available at:

https://esd.ny.gov/doing-business-ny/requests-proposals/rfa-community-regional-partnerships

No. Question Answer

Is it possible to receive funding for multiple NYS SSBCI programs? For example, the Community and Regional Partnerships initiative and the emerging fund manager program?

If the applicant meets the eligibility criteria requirements, they are able to apply to the appropriate SSBCI program.

On page 15, under the definition of 'beneficiary companies,' could you elaborate on the requirement for Beneficiary Companies to be located within the State for a satisfactory period of time?

For the purposes of this RFA, a satisfactory period of time is one year.

Does the Beneficiary Company need to be located within the state of New York prior to receiving an investment from the Applicant? In other words, may the Applicant use its programming as an opportunity to recruit eligible Beneficiary Companies to relocate to the State?

Beneficiary Companies receive investment when they participate in Programs based in New York State. A Beneficiary Company does not need to be based in New York State prior to participating in the Program.

For the 1:1 private matching fund requirement, would you be able to define eligible and ineligible sources of private funding?

Matching funds include monies from private sources (non-government or public funding).

On page 5, under E. Data Collection: is there an expected timeframe for capturing and tracking information related to the Beneficiary Companies beyond the three year contract period?

Applicants are required to collect data for ten years.

Is the Applicant expected to use funding to support both Micro Business and Small Businesses? Or, may they choose to focus their programming towards one or the other?

Applicants can choose to support Micro Businesses, Small Businesses, or both.

Are there required fields for the project budget or a preferred template?

A budget template has been added to the website (https://esd.ny.gov/doing-business-ny/requests-proposals/rfa-community-regional-partnerships).

In following the application order outlined on page 6 and 7, where should the budget template be inserted? After the success stories and before the procurement forms and requirements" outlined on page 10 and 11?

The budget should be provided after the success stories and before the procurement forms.

For the three year contract period, is there an expected amount of time allocated towards planning, implementation, and reporting?

Applicants should be prepared to implement their program soon after award. Similarly, data collection should begin as soon as the program is implemented and Beneficiary Companies should be tracked for ten years.

https://esd.ny.gov/doing-business-ny/requests-proposals/rfa-community-regional-partnerships

For the three year contract period, if the Applicant is proposing an accelerator model (with technical assistance) is there an expectation or guideline for the number of accelerator programs the Applicant should complete?

There is not a guideline; however, Applicants are expected to be committed to the Program they propose and, with or without ESD matching funds, have the ability to sustain themselves for the long term and continue to support New York State companies.

I would like some clarification on the SSBCI funding, specifically the 1:1 private funding matching requirement.

Can you break this down for me please?

ESD will provide $1 of funding for every $1 of private funds invested in Beneficiary Companies to successful Applicants.

Can you receive funding through the Community and Regional Partner Fund SSBCI Program in conjunction with an SBA 504 Loan? Can a 504 Loan be the other lender and still be able to qualify for the Community and Regional Partner Fund SSBCI loan?

The Community and Regional Partner Fund is not a loan program for individual businesses. If an Applicant has an existing SBA 504 loan or is in the process of applying for an SBA 504 loan that they used/will use for a building and fixtures for their accelerator program, for example, that would/will not disqualify them from receiving funding from an awarded accelerator under this program.

[For companies who move onto Step II of the process…]

1) Will [Step II] be done on-site somewhere, or is this virtual?

2) Can any employee of the company give such a [Step II] presentation or does it have to be the owner of the company?

3) Any more details you can provide on this Step II?

Interviews are expected to be done remotely.

Members of the Applicant’s team are welcome to attend. The Executive Director of the Program should attend the interview. Step II reviews are by invitation only.

Is this program for nonprofits as well?

Not-for-profits can apply for this program. But funding through this program is to be used for investments into Beneficiary Companies.

How about for businesses that caters to college students?

If the business meets all eligibility requirements, they are able to apply.