What's happening
This bill creates a matching grant program for New York colleges and universities to partner with communities on local problem-solving projects.
Why it matters
Promotes local solutions with shared responsibility. By requiring a dollar-for-dollar match from non-state funds, the program ensures that colleges and their community partners are financially invested in the success of their projects, leveraging additional resources and buy-in beyond state support.
Targets a broad range of local challenges. The bill encourages projects focused on pressing community issues such as housing, economic development, health care, education, infrastructure, job training, and more, meaning the program can adapt to diverse local needs across New York State.
Fosters deeper partnerships and civic engagement. Grant applications must demonstrate collaboration with non-profits, businesses, civic groups, and local governments, as well as active involvement from students, faculty, and community members, strengthening long-term ties between campuses and their surrounding communities.
Emphasizes accountability and measurable results. Applicants are required to detail project goals, timelines, funding sources, and expected outcomes, promoting transparency and ensuring that funded projects have clear objectives and tangible community impacts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Community Grant Partnerships
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to commerce, economic development and small business
- Referred to commerce, economic development and small business
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1293
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. FUNKE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business
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.
§ 448. Fund allocation and grant awards.
§ 449. Funding criteria.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07048-01-9
S. 1293 2
§ 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. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are 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 qual- ity 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 creat- ing 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 contin- ue 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 devel- opment 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 effec- tive 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.