(Please note, this a pre-decisional draft that is confidential and not subject to FOIL)

Introduction.The County of Albany, New York intends to utilize a portion of its American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA) allocation to make transformative investments, over a wide-range of uses, that address the negative economic impacts caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

Strategic Investments and Programmatic Goals. One way to meet strategic goals is through a series of targeted grant investments that meet the needs of the community and foster long-term growth.  The goal of these targeted investments are to:

• • Sustain and Strengthen the County’s Economic Recovery due to negative impacts from COVID-19 Pandemic;
  • Improve Vital Public Services and relieve one-time expenses (capital projects) from the Operating Budget, and;
  • Make investments that support long-term growth, opportunity and equity for Albany County residents, businesses and stakeholders.

Economic Development Investments: Investments relating to economic development activies are intended to be made in the following categories and amounts: 

• • Category 1 – $                 
  • Category 1 – $                 
  • Category 1 – $                 
  • Category 1 – $                 
  • Category 1 – $                 

Request Funding. Funds will be awarded only after of the completion, submission and review of a formal application. The application may be made online by completing the below form. Hardcopies of the application will be made available upon request. Incomplete or deficient applications will be disqualified for consideration by the County.

Submission Limit. Applicants may submit one (1) request per (Project?), regardless of number of locations within the County.

Competitive Process.  By completing the application, the applicant confirms that they understand that this is a competitive process, and their project may or may not be selected for further consideration or funding.  Completion of an application is not a guarantee of award. Applications will be reviewed, and investments will be made at the discretion of the County. 

Award Structure. Awards may be provided by the County in the form of grants, loans, forgivable loans or any combination thereof. The County reserves the right to not fund a project, or to fund it at a lower amount than requested. 

Decision Process. Each proposed project and applicant will be subject to the County’s standard ARPA decision making process in order to ensure ARPA eligibility,  ability of applicants to meet the reporting and compliance requirements as set forth by the US Treasury and to determine the best and most strategic use of funds. 

County awards must be expended in compliance with applicable Local, State and Federal law. The use of funds must address impacts associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Eligible Organizations or Entities. To  be eligible for consideration, organizations or entities must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Demonstrate that they were in existence pre-COVID (January 27, 2020).
• Be able to demonstrated a negative economic impact directly attributable to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Located within the County of Albany,  provide services to residents or stakeholders of Albany County or intend to relocate to Albany County.
• As applicable, posses at least one (1) full-time equivalent employee (including the business owner).
• Have less than 500 employees.
• Generally be independently owned/operated.
• Not be dominant in its field.
• Ability to demonstrate how an investment would be used to make positive adjustments to operation.
• Demonstrate a sustainability plan for the investment.
• Be current on all taxes and fees owed to the County of Albany. 

Ineligible Organizations or Entities.  The following Organizations or Entities are generally considered to be ineligible:

• Banks and/or financial companies.
• Franchises or chain businesses.
• Organizations or entities temporarily or permanently closed due to illegal activity.
• Organizations or entities engaged in illegal activity.
• Non-Profit organizations (there is a seperate request form for non-profit organziations).
• Businesses seeking aid to provide hazard pay to eligible essential workers (there is a seperate request form specific to hazard pay).

Eligible Uses. Funding is subject to the requirements specified in the U.S. Treasury’s Final Rule. See Federal regulations Click Here.

Award Restrictions. Awarded funds may not be used to pay taxes, fees, or any other payments due to the County of Albany. In addition, organization or entities shall not be permitted to use funds for expenses that already have beeen or will be covered by any other local, state, or federal assistance program.