What's happening
This bill creates a matching grant program to fund partnerships between New York colleges and communities addressing local challenges.
Why it matters
Encourages colleges to tackle real-world local problems. By requiring projects to address significant community needs—like housing, health care, infrastructure, and job training—the program pushes higher education institutions to engage directly with pressing issues that affect everyday New Yorkers.
Leverages outside investment and local buy-in. The matching requirement means colleges must secure non-state funds (federal, local, private, or in-kind), ensuring projects have broader support and are more likely to reflect community priorities and attract additional resources.
Promotes sustainable, collaborative partnerships. Applicants must outline how they’ll build lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with non-profits, businesses, government, and community members, aiming for ongoing impact rather than one-off projects.
Focuses on measurable results and accountability. Grant applications must demonstrate the capacity to deliver concrete, trackable outcomes, increasing transparency about how public and private funds are used and what tangible benefits result for communities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Community Grants Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to commerce, economic development and small business
- Committee discharged and committed to commerce, economic development and small business
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
823
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 5, 2017
Introduced by Sen. FUNKE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to a New York state community solutions matching grant program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. (a) New York state boasts a diverse array of colleges and universities that enhance community life, promote economic opportunity, improve health and safety and ensure quality education. The New York state community solutions matching grant program will serve as a catalyst for partnerships between institutions of higher education and communities to solve community problems through research, outreach activities and the exchange of information. These institutions of higher education will help to address the challenges facing New York state communities and provide critical services and programs to assist the broad needs of New Yorkers.
(b) Research and outreach activities assisted under this program shall focus on problems associated with, but not limited to, housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, infrastructure, health care, job training, education, planning, community organizing and other areas deemed appropriate by the empire state development corporation. Funds received under this program shall be used for new and innovative programs that will address the problems identified in the eligible applicant's application or to expand and grow existing programs run by the applicant that are already addressing challenges and needs in their community.
§ 2. The economic development law is amended by adding a new article 23 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 23
NEW YORK STATE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM
Section 447. Definitions.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04268-01-7
S. 823 2
§ 448. Fund allocation and grant awards.
§ 449. Funding criteria.
§ 450. Application and approval process.
§ 447. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1. Eligible applicant. The term "eligible applicant" shall mean every SUNY, CUNY and private, non-profit college or university in New York state.
2. Non-state funds. The term "non-state funds" shall mean any funds, except state funds, accessible by the eligible applicant for the project including, but not limited to, federal funds, local funds, private funds, and in-kind donations.
3. Corporation. The term "corporation" shall mean the New York state empire state development corporation.
§ 448. Fund allocation and grant awards. 1. Within amounts appropriated or otherwise available therefor, the corporation shall develop and administer a New York state community solutions matching grant program, which shall provide assistance in the form of grants for reasonable and necessary expenses to eligible applicants for proposed projects that address significant community needs. Eligible applicants shall be eligible for matching grants up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars.
§ 449. Funding criteria. Eligible applicants shall provide an equal matching non-state fund contribution for each state dollar received.
§ 450. Application and approval process. 1. Applications for matching grants pursuant to this article shall be developed, reviewed and evaluated pursuant to eligibility requirements and criteria set forth in this article. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations pursuant thereto.
2. Each eligible applicant shall include in its application the following:
(a) a statement that the applicant has the resources available to fund the proposed project;
(b) a statement describing how the proposed project will address significant community needs and produce measurable results;
(c) a statement that illustrates the role played by any non-profit partners, students, faculty, staff or other interested community members in supporting the proposed project;
(d) a statement discussing the strategies the applicant will employ to build long-term, mutually-beneficial community partnerships and explain efforts to enlist other collaborators, including but not limited to businesses, civic organizations, and/or government agencies;
(e) a statement detailing the project, including anticipated timeline and project costs, including the sources and uses of funds; and
(f) a statement outlining the type or types of non-state funds to be used and the source or sources of such funds.
3. Upon receipt of a matching grant application the corporation shall review such application for technical sufficiency and compliance with the application criteria in this article. If necessary, the corporation may request additional information from eligible applicants before making a determination on the awarding of matching grants under this article.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the economic development law, in relation to a New York state community solutions matching grant program
Purpose or general idea of bill
To create a community solution matching grant program for SUNY, CUNY and private, nonprofit colleges in New York state for new and innovative programs to address problems within a college or university's community.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one sets forth the legislative intent. New York state has a diverse array of colleges and universities that enhance community life, promote economic opportunity, improve health and safety and ensure quality education. Our institutions already work to address challenges faced within each of their communities, but having a matching grant program will allow for more partnerships, research and provide critical services and programs for New York state communities.
Section two amends the economic development law to add Article 23 creating the New York state Community Solutions Matching Grant Program.
Section three sets forth the effective date
Justification
Institutions of higher education have long been good citizens for the communities they are in Through this program New York state can continue to leverage its colleges and universities to better the lives of all New Yorkers through job training programs, assist new businesses, legal clinics, mentorship programs, community downtown revitalization efforts, elementary and secondary educational initiatives, lead community development projects, improve community health and improve nutrition and new and innovative ideas created and fostered through this giant program
Prior legislative history
S.5433 of 2015-2016; reported and committed to Finance
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.