Partners

Mayor Robert Palmieri recognizes how daunting and time consuming it can be to navigate the myriad of economic development offerings.  To ease this process, the City of Utica has compiled this comprehensive listing of services, financial assistance, training, counseling, and tax benefits available to business owners in Utica.

The City of Utica's Department of Urban & Economic Development can help you assemble the optimal economic development resources for your business.  Urban & Economic Development will work with you and the agencies listed to make your business a success.  To learn more, stop in our office on the 2nd floor of City Hall or call 315-792-0181.

CITY OF UTICA
Contact:  (315) 792-0181

Jumpstart Loan
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: For-Profit businesses in Utica. 1-5 employees.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Micro-enterprise loan of $1,000 - $5,000.  Rate fixed at prime on date of closing.  Terms of 1-7 years.  Finance up to 50% of project.
APPLICATION & FEES: Business plan and application required. $20 application fee.
COMMENTS: Requires creation of at least one low/moderate income job.

Economic Reinvestment Program
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Industrial, commercial, mixed-use, neighborhood, and service businesses in Utica.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Revolving loan of $5,000 - $150,000.  Rate fixed at 85% of prime rate on date of closing.  Terms of 3-10 years. Minimum of 10% owner's equity.
APPLICATION & FEES: Business plan and application required. $250 application fee and 1.25% administrative fee.
COMMENTS: Can loan up to $15,000 per full-time low/moderate income job created.

Facade Improvement Program
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Businesses or developers investing in businesses, projects, or real estate in Utica.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Real property tax exemptions, sales & use tax exemption, mortgage tax exemption, and bond financing if qualified.
APPLICATION & FEES: Application required, including SEQR, project description, cost - benefit analysis, financials, & job creation information.  Fees vary.
COMMENTS: Equipment acquisition transactions will be considered.

Urban Renewal Agency
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Individuals or businesses desiring to locate in Utica.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Listings of tax foreclosed, abandoned, and distressed properties for sale from the City of Utica.  Residential and commercial sites are listed.
APPLICATION & FEES: Application, developers fee, and financial statements required.
COMMENTS: Bidders must tour property prior to submitting bid.  Back City & School taxes waived.

Planning and Zoning
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Individuals or businesses owning real property in Utica.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: The Planning Board provides site plan review, issues curb cut variances, reviews subdivisions, and recommends zoning amendments.  The Zoning Board of Appeals interprets zoning laws, approves special uses, and grants variances.
APPLICATION & FEES: Application required.
COMMENTS: Professional staff in Urban & Economic Development are available to assist business owners.

City Clerk
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Individuals or  businesses in Utica
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Licenses for vending, theaters, tow trucks, cabarets, auctions, and liquor.
APPLICATION & FEES: Application required. Fees vary.
COMMENTS: May also apply for Commissioner of Deeds.

Utica Industrial Development Corp.
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Non-retail businesses in Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Low interest loans for business expansion.  Guidance in financing business expansion
APPLICATION & FEES: Application required.  No application fee.
COMMENTS: An affiliate of the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce, City of Utica, and EDGE.

MOHAWK VALLEY EDGE  (EDGE)
Contact:  (315) 338-0393
www.mvedge.org  

Micro-Enterprise Loan
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Oneida & Herkimer County businesses in manufacturing, industrial, wholesale, technology, service, and non-retail commercial.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Small business loans of $2,500 - $25,000.  Minimum of 10% owner's cash equity and 50% bank financing. Rate fixed at 4%.  Terms of 5-10 years.
APPLICATION & FEES: Business plan and application required.  Applicant pays all closing costs.
COMMENTS: Requires creation or retention of low/moderate income jobs.

Job Development Loan
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Oneida & Herkimer County businesses in manufacturing, industrial, wholesale, technology, service, and non-retail commercial.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Revolving loan of $25,000 - $250,000.  Minimum of 10% owner's cash equity and 50% bank financing.  Rate fixed at 85% of prime rate on date of closing. Terms of 5-15 years.
APPLICATION & FEES: Application required. Applicant pays all closing costs.
COMMENTS: Requires creation or retention of jobs.

Rural Development & Agri-Business Loan
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Oneida & Herkimer County businesses in manufacturing, industrial, wholesale, technology, service, and non-retail commercial.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Loans of $5,000-$50,000 for rural economic development and agri-business.  Minimum of 10% owner's cash equity and 50% bank financing. Rate fixed at 4%. Terms of 5-10 years.
APPLICATION & FEES: Business plan and application required. Applicant pays all closing costs.
COMMENTS: Requires creation of retention of jobs.

Foreign TradeZones
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Businesses located in the Utica Business Park and Dominic Assaro Industrial Park.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: No duties or quota charges on re-exported items. Customs duties and federal excise tax deferred on imports. Inventory tax exemption on goods held for export.
APPLICATION & FEES: Requires Foreign Trade Zone activation.  $50,000 operator's bond required.
COMMENTS: Can provide FTZ technical assistance.

EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (ESDC)
Contact:  (315) 793-2366
www.empire.state.ny.us

Linked Deposit Program Loan
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Manufacturers w/ less than 500 employees, service businesses w/ less than 100 employees, certified M/WBE, businesses in Empire Zones, defense industry manufacturer diversifying to non-military markets, and businesses w/ less than 100 employees in highly distressed areas or increasing export activity.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Ability to obtain a loan from a commercial or savings bank, farm credit institution, and NY Business Development Corp. up to $500,000.  Rates is 2-3% lower than bank's prevailing rate.  Term is up to 4 years.
APPLICATION & FEES: Apply at a participating lender institution.
COMMENTS: Professional service businesses, retail, and start-up businesses not eligible.

Direct loans or grants
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Manufacturers, service providers, warehouses & distributors, research & development businesses, tourism/destination businesses, M/WBE.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Loans or grants for eligible project costs, working capital, employee training, productivity enhancement, and infrastructure.
APPLICATION & FEES: Application and financial statements required.
COMMENTS: Professional service businesses, retail, and start-up businesses not eligible.

MOHAWK VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT (MVEDD)
Contact: (315) 866-4671
https://mvedd.org/

SBA 504 loans
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Operating, for-profit businesses.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: SBA 504 loans on fixed assets of $25,000 - $1.5 million.  Minimum of 10% owner's equity and 50%bank financing. Term of loan equals useful life of fixed asset (up to 20 years).  Rate fixed at closing are usually less than comparable corporate bond rate.
APPLICATION & FEES: Application required.
COMMENTS: Investment real estate, not-for-profit, gambling, media, financial, and private recreation businesses not eligible. One job must be created or retained per $50,000 loaned.

MORECO - NYSUDC
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Loans for working capital up to 50% of project costs or $75,000.  Minimum 10% owner's equity.  Terms up to 5 years.  Rate is 70% of prime rate on date of closing (minimum of 5.0%). 
APPLICATION & FEES: Application required. Application fee of $200 Commitment fee of 1/2 of 1% of loan.  Closing fee of 1/2 of 1% of loan.
COMMENTS: Retail & service businesses not eligible unless creating 10 jobs.  Media and not-for-profit not eligible.  One job must be created per $10,000 loaned.

MORECO - EDA
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Loans for fixed assets & working capital up to 30% of project costs.  Minimum of 10% owner's equity.  Terms of 5-7 years.  Rate fixed at prime on date of closing.
APPLICATION & FEES: Application required. Application fee of $200 Commitment fee of 1/2 of 1% of loan.  Closing fee of 1/2 of 1% of loan.
COMMENTS: Retail & service businesses not eligible unless creating 10 jobs.  Media and not-for-profit not eligible.  One job must be created per $10,000 loaned.

MOHAWK VALLEY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC)
Contact: (315) 731-5887
https://thincubator.co/mohawk-valley-small-business-development-center/

Business Counseling & Technical Assistance
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Existing businesses or those contemplating starting a business.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Provide start-up assistance, business plan development, management and technical services in marketing, finance, government contracting, organization planning, government contracting, accounting, and M/WBE.
APPLICATION & FEES: Counseling services are free of charge.
COMMENTS: Located in the Thincubator on Broad Street, with offices in Rome, Herkimer and Canastota.

Training
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Comprehensive training
PROGRAM BENEFIT: 20-hour Small Business In-Depth course, classes on a variety of topics including pricing, bidding, advertising techniques, entrepreneurial skill evaluation, and effective hiring.
APPLICATION & FEES: Fees vary by course.
COMMENTS: Access to training throughout the State.

WORKING SOLUTIONS
Contact:  (315) 793-2229
www.working-solutions.org

Recruit qualified applicants
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Existing businesses in Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Post job openings for employers, skills assessments, screen referrals, provide labor market information, and access to talent bank.
APPLICATION & FEES: Services are free of charge.
COMMENTS

Job Restructuring
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Existing businesses in Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Assistance with managing a layoff, downsizing or closing. Outplacement services and job transition assistance.
APPLICATION & FEES: Services are free of charge.
COMMENTS:

Information
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Existing businesses in Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Labor law, economic development, workforce training, and wage tax credit information.
APPLICATION & FEES: Services are free of charge.
COMMENTS

WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER
Contact:  (315) 733-9848
www.nywbc.org

Business Counseling, Training, and Referrals
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES: Women business owners or women contemplating starting a business.
PROGRAM BENEFIT: Dedicated to training and assisting women start businesses or grow existing business.
APPLICATION & FEES: Services are free of charge.
COMMENTS: Located in the Radisson Hotel, Utica