Western New York Regional Economic Development Council to hold consolidated funding application workshops

Public forums explain CFA process and how to access up to $750 million in economic development funding from agency programs through one application

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council will hold two consolidated funding application workshops for potential applicants to learn more about the fourth round of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's initiative to stimulate job creation and economic growth through the Regional Economic Development Councils. The workshops will be held May 13 in Amherst and May 29 in Fredonia.

In 2014, up to $750 million in economic development resources from 33 state agency funding programs will be available to applicants through the CFA.

Register by visiting http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/western-new-york or by calling 716-846-8206.

The CFA application period is now open to applicants across the five-county Western New York region, which includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties. The deadline for CFA submissions is 4 p.m. Monday, June 16. CFAs will be reviewed by the WNYREDC based on their alignment with the council's strategic plan and will be reviewed on a technical basis by the state agency resource team. The CFA is available at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/.

The Western New York region's 2011 strategic plan, "A Strategy for Prosperity," leverages the region's strategic advantages in key industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing, agriculture, binational logistics, energy, health and life sciences, higher education, professional services and tourism. The plan focuses on strategies that promote smart growth, prepare the workforce and foster a culture of entrepreneurship. For round four, the council is seeking applicants that, not only reflect the priorities that are most important to address Western New York's opportunities and challenges, but will also create, retain or fill jobs; maximize a return on investment; and are ready for implementation.

The schedule for Western New York CFA Workshops includes:

•Tuesday, May 13 in Amherst

1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Daemen College - Schenck Hall, Amherst

Register here: http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/cfa-workshop-western-ny-may-13-2014

•Thursday, May 29 in Fredonia

2 to 4:30 p.m.

SUNY Fredonia - Williams Center, Fredonia

Register here: http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/cfa-workshop-western-ny-may-29-2014

The workshops will include an overview of the application and CFA process followed by informational breakout sessions on specific areas of funding available for economic development projects. 

Applicants are also encouraged to reach out to the state agency resource team for technical assistance prior to submitting an application and to view the 2014 CFA toolkit on the WNYREDC website for tips and guidance.

As part of Cuomo's efforts to improve the state's economic development model, a state consolidated funding application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. The CFA was recognized with a Special Award for Excellence in Business and Economic Development in 2012.

There are 33 programs available through 12 state agencies in 2014, including Empire State Development; NYS Canal Corporation; NYS Energy Research and Development Authority; Environmental Facilities Corp.; Homes and Community Renewal; Department of Labor; Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Department of State; The New York Power Authority; Department of Environmental Conservation; The Office of Storm Recovery; and Council on the Arts.

The 2014 available CFA resources manual, which outlines the funds available from 33 state agency programs, and the 2014 REDC guidebook, which provides the competitive guidelines for this year, are both available on the REDC website.

For more information on the Regional Councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.