DHCR Announces Approval of $1.6 Million to Help Businesses Throughout the State Grow and Create 372 Jobs

ALBANY, NY (03/03/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) today announced $1.6 million in funding through the New York State Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) Economic Development program and Small Business programs to help businesses in Genesee, Yates, Schoharie, Cortland, and Franklin Counties grow and create 372 jobs.

Governor David A. Paterson said, "New York State CDBG grants are at work across the state helping businesses succeed and attracting new business to New York. This means more jobs for working families and better neighborhoods and communities. By providing small businesses with the tools and resources they need to grow, we can help revitalize New York's economy community by community and regain the economic security families need."

DHCR Acting Commissioner Brian Lawlor said, "These awards will help three New York companies grow and create new jobs in New York. In addition, three new Microenterprise programs will be established to provide training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs. Throughout the state, communities and businesses are working to recover from the economic crisis and expand to meet the needs of their customers and the workforce, and New York State CDBG funds are an important part of the solution."

The CDBG economic development grants will leverage more than $6.7 million in private and public financing and include:

Village of Penn Yan will receive $250,000, create 300 jobs at Data Listing Services

The Village of Penn Yan in Yates County will receive $250,000 to assist Data Listing Services, LLC in expanding its presence in New York by establishing a new call center. DLS is a live-operator service center that serves a diverse set of clients. The new call center in Penn Yan will be the company's third location in New York State. The NYS CDBG resources will leverage $2.7 million in private financing and create 300 jobs within two years, 289 of which will be made available to low and moderate-income families.

Batavia will receive $516,000, create 33 jobs at First Wave Technologies

The Town of Batavia in Genesee County will receive $516,000 to help medical device company First Wave Technologies expand and open offices in Genesee County's new Upstate Med-Tech Centre. Within two years, First Wave will create 33 jobs in production, sales, and marketing, and 21 of these jobs will be made available to low and moderate-income families. NYS CDBG resources will leverage more than $3.5 million in private and public financing.

Schoharie County will receive $255,000, create 17 jobs at Trinity Packaging Group

Schoharie County will receive $255,000 to help pharmaceutical packaging company Trinity Packaging Group expand. Funding will allow the company to invest in new machinery and equipment, and create 17 jobs over two years, 16 of which will be available to low and moderate-income families. NYS CDBG funding will leverage more than $507,500 in private and public financing.

$600,000 for Microenterprise programs in Cortland, Malone, and Tupper Lake

Acting Commissioner Lawlor said that funding announced today includes $600,000 for Microenterprise Assistance Programs (MAP) in Cortland and Franklin Counties. MAPS assist small businesses and start-up companies that create new job opportunities for low and moderate-income families. "There has been a great deal of interest in these programs-there are now six in place around the state," said Lawlor. "Microenterprise programs are often the result of strategic plans that localities develop to revitalize neighborhoods and strengthen local economies."

The City of Cortland in Cortland County will receive $200,000 in NYS CDBG Small Business Program resources to establish the City of Cortland Microenterprise Program to assist existing and start-up micro-businesses and provide grants to support working capital, inventory, equipment and minor renovation costs. The City of Cortland Microenterprise Program will assist at least seven micro-businesses and create or retain at least five jobs, all of which will benefit low and moderate-income families.

In Franklin County, the Towns of Malone and Tupper Lake will each receive $200,000 to establish Microenterprise Assistance Programs. The program is a result of strategic plans the towns developed and will complement existing economic and community development efforts, including creating synergy to assist businesses located or planning to locate in areas targeted by state's New York Main Street Program. Each town will work with local economic development partners to establish entrepreneurial training assistance programs. The Tupper Lake Microenterprise Program will create at least 11 new jobs, and the Malone Microenterprise Program will create six new jobs.

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