SSBCI Technical Assistance to Capital Programs (Round 2)

Empire State Development (ESD), the Capital Access team in New York State, is requesting applications for technical assistance providers to serve very small businesses (VSBs) and socially and economically disadvantaged individual-owned businesses (SEDI-owned businesses) under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Technical Assistance to Capital Programs Round 2, with applications due November 10, 2026 by 2:00 PM ET via Dropbox. Ineligible applicants include any entity that received SSBCI TA Round 1 funding or Entrepreneurial Assistance Center awards.

Eligible applicants must be nonprofit or for-profit entities providing legal, accounting, or financial advisory services; be headquartered and physically present in New York State with at least 80 percent of business transactions conducted in-state; demonstrate experience serving SEDI-owned businesses, VSBs, and manufacturers; be registered in the Statewide Financial System (SFS); and meet at least one of three criteria demonstrating primary mission, regular marketing, or dedicated 25 percent revenue allocation to legal, accounting, and/or financial services.

Applicants must select three geographic service regions from ten designated ESD regions across New York State and choose to serve Track One (supporting five general SSBCI capital programs), Track Two (supporting three contractor-focused SSBCI programs), or both. Providers must commit to serving a minimum of 10 percent manufacturing businesses and prioritize SEDI-owned businesses as subcontractors.

The grant award is up to $205,000 per selected provider, divided into two equal 50 percent advances, with the final advance contingent upon achieving at least 80 percent of Year One goals (mid-February through December 2027). The total funding available for Round 2 is $2.05 million from the American Rescue Plan Act reauthorization of the Small Business Jobs Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury. The technical assistance service delivery period extends from mid-February 2027 through October 15, 2028, with closeout ending October 31, 2028.

Interviews are scheduled between December 4–11, 2026, with anticipated contract execution in mid-February 2027. Administrative costs are limited to allowable amounts per federal requirements; there is no cost-match requirement. Vendors must comply with ISO Standards 27001, 27005, and 27035; GDPR; and New York State and Federal Cyber Security and Information Security Policies and Laws. MWBE and DBE contracting goals are 0.00%.