Many of these tools and resources are offered via Empire State Development (ESD), This report offers summaries, interactive links, and contact information for many ESD programs that are of particular use to New York’s space and aerospace industry.
Every space and aerospace company in New York should have a relationship with their ESD Regional Office. These contacts can be helpful in identifying unique local incentives or resources that can spur growth and can also serve as key networking opportunities that can facilitate new and beneficial partnerships. The regional economic development councils also offer helpful resources regarding the Consolidated Funding Application that allows businesses to submit one application for multiple different programs.
This report is grouped into the following categories that outline various pathways of ESD support businesses can access:
> NY Ventures - New York’s venture capital fund that supports high-growth companies and their partners with an array of financial tools and resources.
> Innovation Development Support - Leverages innovative technologies to grow businesses.
> NY Accelerators & Competitions - Various regional and statewide incubators and accelerators that leverage universities and manufacturing facilities to grow scalable companies.
> Operational Support - Training tools and other resources to assist companies with a wide range of growth needs.
> Tax-Based Incentives - A series of tax credits and incentives designed to grow businesses, particularly small businesses.
> Growth Support - A wide range of grants, loans, and incentives designed to help businesses of all types grow.
These various channels of support can provide necessary and perhaps even game-changing benefits to companies of all shapes and sizes throughout the New York space ecosystem.
NY Ventures supports high-growth companies and their partners in using technology to solve important challenges in areas of strategic interest and importance. We actively look to provide greater access to venture capital for regions, industries and individuals, including women and minority entrepreneurs and fund managers.
> Pre-Seed & Seed Matching Fund Program offers early-stage businesses equity investments from $50,000 up to $250,000 with matching from the private sector (there must be at least $1 of qualified private sector investment for every $1 NY Ventures invests). Apply directly through the link.
> NYS Innovation Venture Capital Fund a $100 million direct investment fund for Seed through Series B technology companies across New York State. Contact newyorkventures@esd.ny.gov to learn more or apply for later stage funding.
Innovation Development Support offers resources designed to enable new and existing businesses to become more competitive through the use of innovative technologies.
> NY Manufacturing Extension Partnership (1 in each Region) is a network of organizations that provide growth and innovation services to small and mid-sized manufacturers.
> NYS Certified Business Incubators & Innovation Hot Spots (1 in each Region) is a network of 30 incubators and hot spots that offer various resources to companies. Opportunities to apply and eligibility criteria can be found on the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) website.
> NYS Science & Technology Law Center - An organization dedicated to providing legal research, education, and information to help commercialize new technologies from lab to market. Contact nysstlc@syr.edu or use the Intake Form.
> Cornell Center for Materials Research - The CCMR Industrial Partnerships program helps companies of all sizes solve science-driven challenges by offering access to world-class subject matter experts and state-of-the-art equipment in order to create novel products, explore new markets, and grow.
Contact Donna.Howell@cornell.edu.
> Innovation Matching Grants Program - Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (“NYSTAR”), Innovation Matching Grants Program (the “IMG Program”) aims to grow small businesses and support the development of new technologies in New York State by providing matching funds for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.
Contact IMGProgram@esd.ny.gov.
NY Accelerators & Competitions are Empire State Development programs that connect scalable companies with New York State’s top universities, talent, and manufacturing facilities through its support of several cutting-edge accelerator programs and funding competitions.
> 43North - Buffalo area accelerator that includes opportunities for space and aerospace companies, with previous awards including innovative drone operators.
Contact link.
> Luminate - Rochester area accelerator with a focus on optics and photonics that has supported space-based companies in the past, including a 2022 award to SCOUT for work on spacecraft vision and safety in space.
Contact info@nextcorps.org.
> Genius NY - Syracuse area accelerator, focused on unmanned aerial systems and robotics.
Contact link.
> FuzeHub - FuzeHub Commercialization Competition is an annual competition intended to help small manufacturing and technology companies further develop their prototype in an effort to pursue additional investment and customers as well as strengthen their “go-to-market” strategies, as they move from new product/production method to marketplace.
Contact info@fuzehub.com.
Operational Support refers to a wide range of business trainings, resources and assistance programs are available to help businesses with everything from finding a mentor to taking products and services to a global marketplace.
> Entrepreneurial Assistance Program - Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EAC) is an enterprise development program that provides instruction, training, technical assistance, and support services to individuals who are interested in starting or recently started their own business, or entrepreneurs seeking to expand or strengthen their early-stage business. Contact nyseac@esd.ny.gov or visit the EAC Directory.
> Employee Training Incentive Program - The Employee Training Incentive Program provides refundable tax credits to New York State employers for skills training that upgrades or improves the productivity of their employees. Businesses can also receive tax credits for approved internship programs that provide training in advanced technology. Contact sm.economic-incentives@esd.ny.gov or take advantage of the Online Application.
> Procurement Assistance Program - The Procurement Assistance Program guides New York State small businesses in identifying contracting opportunities with state government agencies, and finding the resources needed to compete in this marketplace. Contact ESD's Procurement Assistance Unit at (518) 292-5266.
> NYS Surety Bond Assistance Program - The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) provides technical and financial assistance to help contractors secure surety bonding. Contractors may be eligible to receive a guarantee of up to 30%, or $600,000, whichever is less, to secure a surety bond line, bid bond or a performance and payment bond on publicly funded or government-led projects.
Contact BAP@esd.ny.gov
Tax Based Incentives includes all forms of tax incentives, business incentives and tax credits in New York State, all designed to benefit small or expanding businesses.
> Excelsior Jobs Program - The Excelsior Jobs Program encourages businesses to expand in and relocate to New York, utilizing the Consolidated Funding Application.
> Start Up NY - START-UP NY helps new and expanding businesses through tax-based incentives and innovative academic partnerships. START-UP NY offers new and expanding businesses the opportunity to operate tax-free for 10 years on or near eligible university or college campuses.
Contact startupny@esd.ny.gov.
> New Markets Tax Credit Program - The New Markets Tax Credit Program (“NMTC Program”) provides investment capital for operating companies and real estate development projects in order to foster job creation and community development in low-income communities. Visit the qualification website or complete the Intake Form.
> Opportunity Zone Program - New York State is participating in the new Opportunity Zone community development program that encourages private investment in low-income urban and rural communities.
Growth Support includes programs Empire State Development conducts to support and encourage business growth with a variety of funds, loans, grants and other financial incentives. Take a look at the assistance New York offers businesses — from innovative start-ups to manufacturers to companies looking to export.
> Linked Deposit Program - The Linked Deposit Program (LDP) helps existing New York State firms obtain reduced-rate financing so they can undertake investments for a wide range of critical business functions. Contact Linkeddeposit@esd.ny.gov or complete the Application.
> Long Island Investment Fund - The Long Island Investment Fund program will focus on large-scale, transformative projects that will have lasting impacts on Long Island.
Contact NYS-LongIsland@esd.ny.gov.
> ”Bridge to Success” Loan Program - The “Bridge to Success” Loan Program aims to provide qualified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) with access to short-term bridge loans necessary to execute contracting opportunities across New York State. CONTACT NYS MWBE Resource Line: (855) ESD-4MWB (855-373-4692).
> Small Manufacturers Modernization Grant - To assist NYS small legacy manufacturers to invest in projects that will significantly increase the operational efficiencies and market competitiveness of their businesses to keep them thriving in New York. Contact the relevant Regional ESD Office.
> Regional Council Capital Fund Program - Funding is for capital-based economic development initiatives intended to create or retain jobs; prevent, reduce or eliminate unemployment and underemployment; and/or increase business activity in a community or region. Contact the relevant Regional ESD Office.
> Job Development Authority Direct Loan Program - The JDA Direct Loan Program provides direct loans for the growth of manufacturing and other eligible businesses within New York State by assisting in financing a portion of the cost of acquiring and renovating existing buildings or constructing new buildings ("real estate" projects) or for purchasing machinery and equipment ("M&E" projects).
Contact nylovessmbiz@esd.ny.gov.
Future Steps and General Resources
Empire Space continues to work with various stakeholders and policymakers across New York to increase opportunities for the New York space and aerospace ecosystem. We encourage all space and aerospace businesses throughout the state to take advantage of these resources and build productive relationships with their local and regional economic development and ESD representatives. Please contact Empire Space directly if we may be of any assistance to your organization in leveraging these resources.
Below are some general websites and contact information that may be useful to your business.
> Empire State Development website - https://esd.ny.gov/
> Empire Space Census database - empirespace.org/data
> NY Consortium for Space Technology - https://nyspacetech.com/
> Space Week New York - https://www.spacedayny.com/
> Empire Space Contact - info@empirespace.org
ESD Regional Office Contact Information
> ESD Capital Regional Office - nys-capitaldist@esd.ny.gov
> ESD NYC Regional Office - nys-nyc@esd.ny.gov
> ESD Central NY Regional Office - nys-centralny@esd.ny.gov
> ESD North Country Regional Office - nys-northcountry@esd.ny.gov
> ESD Finger Lakes Regional Office - nys-fingerlakes@esd.ny.gov
> ESD Southern Tier Regional Office - nys-southerntier@esd.ny.gov
> ESD Long Island Regional Office - nys-longisland@esd.ny.gov
> ESD Western New York Regional Office - nys-westernny@esd.ny.gov
> ESD Mid-Hudson Regional Office - nys-midhudson@esd.ny.gov
> ESD Mohawk Valley Regional Office - nys-mohawkval@esd.ny.gov