RELIEF GRANT MONEY FROM EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Guidelines make nonprofit organizations that were operating on or south of 14th Street, from Hudson to East River, as of September 11 eligible to apply for grant money. An organization can be located out of that area now, but must still be in New York City. Grants will range from very small amounts up to $300,000.

These grants are essentially for LOST REVENUES, using an average daily income from prior year as the basis for calculating the amount a group may receive.
Self employed artists, who have filed taxes as a business, may be eligible.
The application is at the following web site
www.empire.state.ny.us, click first menu item on the box at the top of the home page. After the letter from Pataki, there is an application, FAQ, and guidelines section. The filing process is relatively easy.

These funds were made available through HUD block grant monies from the federal government, which the Empire State Development Corporation is administering. As of now $375 million has been allocated to this job retention and creation program. Plans are underway to expand the eligibility for this program, so be sure to re-check the site in late June for changes.

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING SEPT. 11 RELIEF FUNDS NEW LAW EXPANDS SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION LOAN PROGRAM
The U.S. Small Business Administration's disaster lending effort on behalf of businesses in New York and Northern Virginia that suffered losses in the aftermath of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks of September 11 has been expanded in the following ways:
Small non-profit institutions located in the declared disaster areas of New York (all five boroughs), Virginia and contiguous counties are now eligible for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. If you have already applied and were turned down, you should send a fax letter to the SBA at 716.284.4631, asking to formally re-open your file, with your File Number in an Attention Section. You should mention that you are submitting the letter because of the legislation passed at the end of 2001.
Payments of principal and interest on these loans will be deferred for two years, and no interest will accrue during that period.
We have not been able to get clarification of what the SBA considers "small." Their idea of small and our idea of small is probably different, but they said they would be flexible when considering loan applications, so do not be deterred from applying by this word.
The following deadlines have expired, or will expire, shortly. Check the SBA offices and web site for extensions.

Deadline for physical damage disaster loans is March 11, 2002.
Small businesses in all the declared disaster areas have until June 11, 2002, to submit loan applications.

Businesses in New York, Virginia and the surrounding areas interested in applying for a disaster loan or obtaining further information can contact the SBA disaster area office in Niagara Falls, New York at 800.659.2955.