Rockland Companies Can Get Professional Guidance For State Application Preparation

Rockland County officials want more local businesses to submit applications for state funding.  So the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of Rockland County announced a contest to assist companies in preparing their applications for funding from the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC).

The REDC wants proposals from companies for long-term job creation. The WIB is offering to help companies with the REDC’s Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. The WIB wants companies to submit a two-page summary of their business growth initiative and then it will select firms to receive professional mentoring and grant writing assistance for the application process.

County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said applying is definitely worthwhile for companies.

“The CFA allows applicants to access multiple State funding sources through one application,” said Vanderhoef. “We have been informed that $540 million will be awarded through this process.”

Business owners and managers should be aware that their company should be able to finance their project upfront, since the CFA awards are presented at the completion of the project. Also, if they participation in the WIB competition, they must agree to use the agency and its free-of-charge one-stop workforce employment services when searching for job candidates.

The CFA application is available at: http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/ as well as information about training workshops. The application must be submitted between June 17 and August 12. Regional branches of the REDC will recommend projects to the state by September 24 with the governor’s office scheduled to announce the awards in December.

Companies entering the WIB contest must submit their two-page summary by July 19 but are advised to submit it as soon as possible because the WIB will choose the winning companies on a “rolling basis.”   

WIB’s selection will be based on: how the project fits into Mid-Hudson REDC’s strategic goals, the creation of a significant number of new long-term jobs and the company’s available funding to implement the project and prepare the CFA application.

Questions about the WIB competition can be directed to WIB Executive Director Stanley J. Jacoby at 845-708-7640. Project summaries should be sent to: jacobys@co.rockland.ny.us or Rockland County Workforce Investment Board, 18 New Hempstead Rd, 1st Floor, New City, NY 10956.