top of page

Economic Development & Startup Resources

Welcome to our comprehensive collection of economic development and startup resources at the STEAM Garden Incubator. This page serves as your gateway to a wide range of federal and state tools, resources, and support programs designed to facilitate the growth and success of your business venture.

Team Meeting

Discover the Power of Enterprise Empowerment 

We understand the challenges that startups face. That’s why we’ve meticulously curated a diverse suite of resources to help you navigate everything from initial planning stages to scaling your business. Here, you’ll find information on grants, loans, tax incentives, mentoring programs, and more, provided by both federal and state institutions. 

Contract Assistance Programs

Each listing comes with a live link to guide you directly to the respective program page, ensuring ease of access to crucial information and applications. This collection covers resources suitable for businesses in various sectors, but especially those within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields.

​

Whether your business is within the STEAM Garden Incubator or located nearby, this page is designed to help you make informed decisions and leverage available economic development tools. As you venture forward, allow us to support you in paving your path to success.
 

Welcome to your hub of economic empowerment. Let's build the future together

HUBZone Program

A Federal contracting program designed to help small businesses located in economically distressed areas gain access to government contracts.

Learn More
Empire State Development (ESD)

In its capacity as New York's chief economic development agency, ESD promotes a healthy and vibrant state economy, encourages business investment, creates jobs, and supports diverse, prosperous local economies with loans, grants, tax credits, and marketing.

Learn More
New York State Innovation Venture Capital Fund

This is a $100 million venture capital fund that invests in New York-based seed-stage and early-stage technology businesses, providing critical funding to promote innovation and drive economic growth in the state.

Learn More
New York Forward
Loan Fund 2

  • A state-sponsored program for stable businesses looking to grow

  • Simple, affordable and business-friendly

  • A source for free business guidance from community-based experts

  • Accessible from anywhere in the state through a virtual platform

Learn More
New York Small Business Development Center (SBDC) 

SBDC eliminates barriers to MWBE participation in state contracts to promote equality in economic opportunity. MWBEs can benefit from certification, resources, and assistance through this program.

Learn More
Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) 

This program works to promote equality in economic opportunities for MWBEs by eliminating barriers to their participation in state contracts. It offers certification, resources and assistance to help MWBEs succeed in the New York State contracting marketplace.

Learn More
New York State Innovation Venture Capital Fund

This is a $100 million venture capital fund that invests in New York-based seed-stage and early-stage technology businesses, providing critical funding to promote innovation and drive economic growth in the state.

Learn More
About America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF

  • Seed capital for early-stage product development

  • We offer funding for early-stage R&D and take no equity in your company — you retain full control over your team, the direction of your work, and your intellectual property.

Learn More
START-UP NY Program

This program works with new, relocating, and expanding businesses to connect them with university partners, tax-free zones, funding, and industry experts. It's aimed at fostering entrepreneurialism and job creation on a large scale.

Learn More
Excelsior Jobs Program

Offers job creation and investment incentives to firms in targeted industries. It provides job tax credits to businesses in strategic industries, such as biotech, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, software development, agriculture, and others.

Learn More
Innovation Hot Spots and Incubators Programs

NYSTAR offers programs that foster innovation by offering new and growing businesses tax benefits, helping them collaborate with universities, venture capitalists, and government entities.

Learn More
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

To promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.

Learn More

CBID - Central Business Improvement District 

BID is an organization that helps improve a commercial district's vitality. It is a geographical area where local stakeholders oversee and fund their commercial district's maintenance, improvement, and promotion. Districts and market small businesses can create a thriving business environment that will benefit the entire community.

bottom of page