MWBE Grant Program

The objective of the 2024-2025 City of Utica Microenterprise Grant Program (the “Program”) is to help small existing minority and/or women owned (MWBE) businesses or startup businesses provide new job opportunities and ultimately broaden the tax base of the City of Utica.  This Program will also incorporate a technical assistance and training component with HUD CDBG funding to make the applicants’ projects a reality.  The 2024-2025 City of Utica Microenterprise Grant Program is designed to support MWBE microenterprises (at the time of application) with five or fewer employees, counting the owner(s).   

Technical assistance gained through the program will enhance the applicant’s chances for success in their project as well as open up financing opportunities not normally available through traditional lending channels.

If you are a small business in the City of Utica with 5 employees or less, you may qualify based on the criteria below:

• Minimum grant amount is $5,000 and maximum is $15,000
• Business Skills Training/Counseling will need to be completed prior to funding
• All federal job retention guidelines must be followed throughout the process.  Creation of job(s) available to low- to moderate-income individuals is mandatory.
• All applicants should submit their application materials first.  Once reviewed by our office for qualification, we will then direct you to contact the thINCubator.
• Applicants will need to provide at a minimum, a one-page business plan with their application materials.

Once you have been qualified by the Department of Urban and Economic Development, we will put you in contact with the thINCubator directly to schedule a training/counseling session after a review of your materials has taken place.

Complete the attached Application, Employment Plan, Personal Financial Statement and have your employee(s) complete the Employee Questionnaire.  Return those documents along with your one-page business plan and organizational document (dba, Inc, LLC, etc) to Jack Spaeth via email at jspaeth@cityofutica.com or mail/drop off to Jack Spaeth, City of Utica, 1 Kennedy Plaza, Utica, NY 13502

Application
Personal Financial Statement
Employment Plan
Employee Questionnaire
Program Policies and Procedures