JOBS Now

Program Purpose

JOBS Now grants offers financial assistance for major business expansion and attraction efforts that will create or attract significant numbers of permanent, full time private sector jobs in New York State.
 
 
Program Highlights
The JOBS Now program is primarily directed toward large projects that create a minimum of 300 new full-time jobs.  ESD may provide assistance for projects that create fewer than 300, but at least 100 new, permanent, full-time, private sector jobs, within the State.
 
Funding assists businesses with construction and expansion of facilities; acquisition of machinery and equipment; to offset a portion of state and local taxes incurred by the expansion; and the recruitment, hiring and training of full-time permanent employees.

There are three categories of JOBS Now funding:

Economic Development Loans and Grants of up to $10,000 per job for projects that promote the economic health of New York State by creating private sector jobs and increasing business activity through expansion of existing companies and the attraction of new companies to New York State. Funds can be used for:

  • Real Estate Acquisition
  • Demolition
  • Construction
  • Site and Infrastructure
  • Machinery and Equipment
  • Inventory
  • Construction Related Planning and Design


Job Creation Grants of up to $1.5 million (depending on the number of jobs created) can be used to reimburse state and local taxes incurred related to business expansion that involves capital or working capital expenses.

Workforce Training Grants offer full or partial reimbursement of costs to eligible businesses for providing worker training that is connected with an expansion or attraction project. Fundable activities include workforce recruitment, skills training and/or upgrading, productivity enhancement and total product/service quality improvement

Program Eligibility
Eligible

  • Private businesses involved in industrial, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution

  • Research and development, high technology, service and other non-retail commercial enterprises

Not Eligible

  • Residential, casino and gambling institutions

  • Debt refinancing, tax delinquency, employee benefit arrearage

  • Retail businesses (unless they are the expansion/attraction of national or regional headquarters facilities)


Application Process
Interested businesses are encouraged to speak with your local  ESD Regional Office or ESD Strategic Business Division staff.  ESD and recipient agree to an Incentive Proposal that outlines the terms and ESD staff reviews the terms.  Satisfactory applications are presented to the ESD directors for consideration.
 
 
Contact Information
Contact your ESD Regional Office or ESD’s Strategic Business Division at (518) 292-5202.