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City of Amsterdam Microenterprise Assistance Program

The City of Amsterdam Microenterprise Assistance Program (AMAP) was made possible through a grant from the New York State Office for Housing and Community Renewal.  The program will provide grants to eligible entrepreneurs and business owners who want to establish or expand an existing business within the City of Amsterdam. Total grant pool in this round of funding is $188,000. Special attention will be given to assisting businesses owned/operated by or employing a significant number of persons of low and moderate income, minority- and women-owned businesses, businesses owned or operated by Returning Veterans, and businesses located in one of Amsterdam’s downtown areas.

Grant application available at this link:

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants may be new or existing sole proprietors, partnerships or corporations with five or fewer employees.

Businesses must be located within the City of Amsterdam. Preference will be given to businesses located in, or relocating to, one of Amsterdam’s Downtown Revitalization areas.

All applicants must complete the mandatory Entrepreneurial Training Workshops which will take place on Tuesdays from May 23 through June 20, 6pm-7:30pm at the Chamber’s office in Amsterdam, 1166 Riverfront Center.  The program consists of four workshops, and an introductory workshop explaining the grant and criteria.

Applicants must fulfill the 20% owner cash equity contribution for the proposed project

Preference will be given to projects that maximize leverage by taking advantage of other Montgomery County grant and loan programs

Preference will be given to projects/businesses that offer internships, job-shadowing or apprenticeship opportunities.

Preference will be given to projects/businesses resulting in job creation.

Businesses receiving funding must create at least one new job offered to, or made available to, persons from low-to-moderate-income (LMI) families, or be owned by a person defined as LMI. If owned by more than one individual, a majority of owners must qualify.

Interested businesses/business owners are encouraged to attend the grant information session, scheduled for Tuesday, May 23, 6pm at the Chamber’s Riverfront Center office.  RSVP is requested for this session – please contact Terry Swierzowski at the Chamber at (518) 725-0641 or email terrys@fultonmontgomeryny.org.

The Entrepreneurial Training Workshops, which are mandatory for grant applicants, but can be taken by anyone, are scheduled as follows. Price for the four courses is $100 or $25 per class. For successful grant applicants, this fee may be reimbursable:

For more information about the grant, contact:
AIDA Executive Director, Jody Zakrevsky
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Email: jzakrevsky@amsterdamny.gov
Phone: (518) 842-5011

For more information on the Entrepreneurial Workshops, please contact Terry Swierzowski at the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce at terrys@fultonmontgomeryny.org or by phone at (518) 725-0641.

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