Montgomery County Business Development Center | (518) 853-8334 | www.mcbdc.com
Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District | (518) 853-4015 |www.montgomerycountyny-swcd.com/
Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce | (518) 725-0641 | www.fultonmontgomeryny.org
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Amanda Bearcroft, Montgomery County Business Development Center, (518) 853-8334
MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (MCBDC) AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY SOIL WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (MCSWD) OFFER MONTGOMERY COUNTY AGRICULTURE MICROENTERPRISE PROGRAM (MCAMP) GRANTS
Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce Partners with MCBDC to promote grants; facilitate classes
Fonda, NY – The Montgomery County Business Development Center and Montgomery County Soil and Water Department are administering a Montgomery County Agriculture Microenterprise Program (MCAMP) that will provide grants to eligible agricultural entrepreneurs and business owners that want to establish or expand an existing business located within Montgomery County. Applicants must be a new or existing commercial agriculture enterprise with five or fewer employees, one or more of which may be the principals and own the enterprise at time of application. Applications are now available through the MCBDC on their website, https://montgomerycountyworks.com/ or by calling the organization at (518) 853-8334. They are also available through Montgomery County Soil & Water by contacting Julicia Godbout at (518) 853-7013.
Total grant pool in this round of funding is $188,000; applicants must be able to fulfill the 10% owner cash equity contribution. Preference will be given to MWBE-status and Veteran-status business owners, to projects/businesses that result in job creation and projects/businesses that offer internships, job-shadowing or apprenticeship opportunities. Grants are intended as working-capital for equipment, furniture, fixtures, inventory and operation; NOT for construction, reimbursement of existing debt or purchase of real estate.
Applications will be reviewed by the MCAMP Grant Committee, comprised of staff from the MCBDC and MCSWCD, members of the Montgomery County Legislature, members of the Agricultural Economic Development (AED) Advisory Committee and members of the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board of Directors.
Interested businesses/business owners are encouraged to attend the grant information session, scheduled for Monday, March 12, 7pm at the Montgomery County Office Annex, Room 214, 20 Park Street in Fonda. RSVP is requested for this session – please contact Terry Swierzowski at the Chamber at (518) 725-0641 or email terrys@fultonmontgomeryny.org.
The Entrepreneurial Training Workshops, which are mandatory for grant applicants but can be taken by anyone, will be scheduled for mid-April to mid-May. Price for the four courses is $100 or $25 per class. For successful grant applicants, this fee may be reimbursable. Classes will be on the following topics with instructors TBD: Business Basics; Recordkeeping, Accounting, Taxes and Financing; Marketing and Advertising; and Business Plans. More information on these classes can be found after March 12 on the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce website at www.fultonmontgomeryny.org or on the MCBDC website.
For more information, or a grant application, please contact Amanda Bearcroft, MCBDC, 9 Park Street, Fonda, abearcroft@co.montgomery.ny.us or by calling (518) 853-8334 or through MCSWD at www.montgomerycountyny-swcd.com, 4001 NY 5S, Fultonville.
For more information on the Entrepreneurial Workshops, please contact Terry Swierzowski at the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce at terrys@fultonmontgomeryny.org or by phone at (518) 725-0641.
The Montgomery County Business Development Center (MCBDC) leads all economic growth in the area with financial incentives and a wide variety of assistance that covers everything from planning to training. The MCBDC collaborates with the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development and Planning as well as the county Industrial Development Agency and Capital Resource Corp. to offer tax-exempt bonds with low interest rates. The center also actively seeks grants for economic development, transportation, disaster mitigation, recreation and other quality-of-life issues that create incentives.
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice of the business in the region providing advocacy, resources and solutions for its members.
END RELEASE