The Peru Gazette

The CFA was opened to applicants today and applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. on August 12, 2013. The CFA is available at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/.

As part of Governor Cuomo’s efforts to improve the state’s economic development model, the New York State CFA 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. In fact, the CFA was recognized with a Special Award for Excellence in Business and Economic Development in 2012.

In the third round of the REDC process, 13 New York State agencies have teamed up to make up to $760 million in economic development resources available to applicants through the CFA. Together, there are 29 funding programs available through the state agencies, including Empire State Development; NYS Canal Corporation; NYS Energy Research and Development Authority; Environmental Facilities Corporation; Homes and Community Renewal; Department of Labor; Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Department of State, Office of National and Community Service; Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; Higher Education Services Corporation; Department of Environmental Conservation; and Council on the Arts.

The 2013 Available CFA Resources Manual, which outlines the funds available from 29 state agency programs, and the 2013 REDC Guidebook, which provides the competitive guidelines for this year, are both available at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

Additionally, to maximize participation in the process and ensure high-quality applications, multiple public workshops will be held in each region of the state to explain the programs and eligibility standards, as well as recent improvements to the CFA application process. The full schedule of workshops is available athttp://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/genericcfa/2013-cfa-workshops.

About the Regional Economic Development Councils

The Regional Economic Development Council initiative (REDC) is a key component of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s efforts to spur economic development and job creation across New York State. In 2011, Governor Cuomo established 10 REDCs to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships composed of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The REDCs have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. As a result of the first two rounds of competitive awards, the State is supporting more than 1,450 regionally significant economic development and community revitalization projects that are creating new jobs for New Yorkers and generating investments that grow our economy. For more information on the Regional Councils, please visitwww.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.