The Long Island Association has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for Long Island business owners that is updated regularly. Make sure to check eligibility requirements. If you have anything you will like to add please email Kristin Kelly at kkelly@longislandassociation.org.
Testing
- USPS free at-home test order form
- New York State Testing Finder (also includes locations other than state-run sites)
- Hauppauge and Hempstead State-Run Sites (in collaboration with Bioreference)
- Farmingdale and Stony Brook State-Run Sites (in collaboration with Quadrant Biosciences)
- Enzo Biochem
- Northwell Health
- Summit Health (CityMD)
Vaccines
Government Policies and Guidance
Testing Kits
Suffolk County was recently allotted additional COVID-19 test kits for the residents and workforce of the County. There are 90 test kits to one box. Each kit contains 2 tests.
New York State Small Business Recovery Program: Grant for small businesses, award is 10% of gross receipts in 2019 up to $2,500,000. Need free assistance with your application? Contacts:
- Hofstra Entrepreneurship Assistance Center: Also submit Hofstra's intake form.
- Suffolk Community College Entrepreneurship Assistance Center: 631-851-6214.
- Farmingdale SBDC
- Stony Brook SBDC
New York State Empire State Development
- Capital Grants: Capital-based economic development projects intended to create or retain jobs; prevent, reduce or eliminate unemployment and underemployment; and/or increase business or economic activity in a community or region. Office hours every Wednesday at 10 am - email for zoom link.
- Tax Credit Programs: Click on link for full listing.
- $10,000 grants for eligible small businesses that experienced financial hardship due to Covid-19.
Funding for New Child Care Programs
- New York State Office of Child and Family Services will be making $70 million in grants available for "child care deserts" to expand options for quality child care. Visit the OCFS website for pre-application requirements. Applications open in April 2022.
Tourism Return-to-Work Grant Program
- Is designed to encourage tourism businesses that suffered pandemic-related job and revenue losses to rehire workers. Qualified businesses can receive grants of $5,000 for each net new full-time equivalent job added, and $2,500 for each net new part-time equivalent job added between January and June 2022. Applicants must complete the required eligibility screening available here, and pre-qualified applicants will be sent a link to apply directly. More information here.
Meet in New York Grant Program
- Will provide grants to help convention centers and conference spaces bring more events. The deadline to apply for these funds is December 31, 2022.
FAST NY Shovel-Ready Grant Program
- Empire State Development will provide up to $200 million in grants to prepare and develop sites statewide.
The Buildings of Excellence competition
- Governor Hochul announced $10 million in funding is available in Round Three of the $40 million Buildings of Excellence Design Competition, which aims to deliver carbon neutral multifamily buildings for New York State. Proposals will be accepted through July 12th by 3:00 p.m. for the design component and July 14, 2022 by 3:00 p.m. for demonstration projects. For more information on this funding opportunity, please visit NYSERDA's website.
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s grantmaking program
They are accepting Letters of Inquiry for their Statewide Grants Program until Friday, May 13, 2022. If your organization serves New Yorkers within their eight priority populations and meets their eligibility requirements, you may submit a Letter of Inquiry via online grants portal.
Small businesses with 100 or fewer employees can check if they are eligible for a new tax credit for capital costs related to Covid-19 that were necessary for the business to comply with regulations. Read more.
U.S. Small Business Administration
- If your business received a PPP loan you may be eligible for loan forgiveness.
- EIDL: The SBA is no longer accepting applications, but will continue to accept requests for increases, appeals, and reconsideration.
- SBA Debt Relief: Offers debt relief to existing SBA loan borrowers whose businesses have been impacted by Covid-19.
New York State Empire State Development
Community Development Financial Institutions
These organizations provide financial counseling and low interest loans to small businesses meeting certain eligibility criteria.
New York State Empire State Development: A New York State agency focusing on economic development. Check the website for resources to grow your business, including tax credit programs for job creation.
- NYS Empire State Development Division of Small Business resources
- New York State Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Long Island Regional Economic Development Council: The LIREDC serves as an economic advisory board for the Long Island Region.
Industrial Development Agencies: IDAs are established under the General Municipal Law and the Public Authorities Law to foster economic development in specific localities.
Chambers of Commerce provide a network of support for business owners in their local community.
- The Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce: Their mission is to represent the concerns of the Nassau County business community. They promote economic security and enhanced economic growth. Find your community's chamber of commerce in Nassau County.
- The Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers, Inc.: A ground-up regional business organization comprised of local chambers of commerce and other business alliances. Find your community's chamber of commerce in Suffolk County.
- The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce: The mission of LIAACC is to advance and promote the economic development for business and to advocate responsive government and quality education, on behalf of all small businesses, with an emphasis on African Ancestry.
- The Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: The LIHCC was established to serve the needs of the Long Island minority owned small business community. Their members garnish the contacts necessary to help their business thrive. LIHCC is a member of the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are funded through the US SBA and provide counseling and training to small businesses.
SBDCs on Long Island include:
Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EACs) are funded through New York State and provide instruction, training, technical assistance and support services to entrepreneurs.
The EACs on Long Island include:
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
Employee Handbook for Small Business
This handbook is intended to assist you in creating your own custom employee handbook. Download here.
The NYS Department of Labor invites you to the Long Island Virtual Career Fair, being held on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
If you are interested in exhibiting, please register, by Friday, March 25, 2022.
Employee Retention Credit Seminar on May 13th - sponsored by S.J. Edwards, Inc.
The Employee Retention Credit provides economic relief to businesses through the CARES Act.
There are many resources on Long Island to support businesses founded by entrepreneurs of color, women, and veterans.
- MWBE Certification: Becoming certified as Minority or Women-Owned Business can assist with contracting opportunities. For more information:
- New York State Empire State Development Division of Minority and Women's Business Development
- Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs MWBE program
- Suffolk County Office of Minority Affairs MWBE program
- NYS MWBE Certification Overview Video (5 min)
- For assistance with your application contact an SBDC or EAC (see previous tab on this webpage)
- Contact ESD for MWBE Certification at 212-803-2414 or at MWBECertification@esd.ny.gov
- SDVOB Certification: Eligible veteran business owners can get certified as a New York State Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB). Contact the NYS Office of General Services Division of Veterans Business Development.
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification: Click the link to find out more about becoming certified as a DBE in New York State.
- MTA Small Business Development Programs for MWBE, SDVOB, and DBE businesses: The goal is to develop and grow emerging contractors through classroom and on-the-job training and technical assistance in prime contracts with MTA Agencies, thereby creating a larger pool of diverse qualified contractors who can compete for and complete MTA construction projects safely, timely and within budget.
- Ascend Long Island: A business development program for diverse owners to support them with obtaining contract opportunities administered by Hofstra University, Boc Capital Corp, and an Anchor Partner Council, primarily funded by JPMorgan Chase and sponsored by Northwell Health, the PSEG Foundation, and the Long Island Community Foundation. Part of a national program.
Organization and Government Agency Links
- Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce
- Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Minority Millennials
- Urban League of Long Island
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Long Island Chapter
- The New York State Association of Black Women Enterprises
- Black Long Island
- Women's Diversity Network
- New York and New Jersey Minority Business Development Council
- Hofstra Veterans Venture Challenge
- Nassau County Veterans Service Agency
- Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency
New York State has designated a network of support for early stage companies through Innovation Hot Spots and New York State Certified Business Incubators.
Services and support could include physical space; shared administrative staff; access to capital; coaching; mentoring; networking connections; prototype development; and access to other technical services. Companies that are part of these programs could be eligible for tax incentives through the Long Island Innovation Hot Spot.
The locations on Long Island include:
- Long Island High Technology Incubator at Stony Brook University
- The Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center at New York Institute of Technology
- The ideaHUb at Hofstra University
National Grid Long Island Business Site: Provides information on assistance during Covid-19.
PSEG Main Street Revitalization Program: Eligible businesses can receive incentives to occupy vacant spaces and breathe new life into struggling business districts.
ReChargeNY: Qualifying businesses and nonprofits statewide can potentially lower their energy costs by using specially allocated NYPA power which is set aside by the state government and the NYPA board for economic support.
Ukraine Cyberattacks: What businesses need to know
- A guide for businesses published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that offers four major steps to protecting your digital assets amid geopolitical conflicts
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency Guide
- A U.S. Agency that has compiled a list of free cybersecurity tools and services to help organizations further advance their security capabilities.
Slides from LIA event "Cybersecurity Demystified" presented by SVAM International and New York Institute of Technology in October 2021
Business Network for Offshore Wind
OSW Supply Chain website (non-profit org)
Offshore Wind International Partnering Forum in Atlantic City April 2022 - contact Stacey Sikes about discounted rates