The mission of Empire State Development (“ESD”) is to promote a vigorous and growing state economy, encourage business investment and job creation, and support diverse, prosperous local economies across New York State through the efficient use of loans, grants, tax credits, real estate development, marketing and other forms of assistance.
Below are a few divisions and programs that might be of interest to business owners. For information about NYS incentives and funding programs, visit our Grants and Incentives page.
New York State is home to the highest minority and women-owned business (MWBE) utilization rate in the country.
Article 3 of the Veterans’ Services Law allows eligible Veteran business owners to get certified as a New York State Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB). The New York State Office of General Services (OGS) Division of Service-Disabled Veterans’ Business Development is responsible for certifying eligible SDVOBs and assisting and promoting their participation in the state’s procurement activities.
The Office of Strategic Workforce Development (OSWD) is charged with better aligning workforce development efforts with the needs and priorities of today’s employers.
The NYS Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) is a program through the American Rescue Plan Act that provides funds to support programs for small businesses, including socially and economically disadvantaged individual owned businesses, to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
