S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  5433

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              May 14, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  FUNKE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Commerce, Economic  Devel-
  opment and Small Business

AN  ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to a New York
  state community solutions matching grant program

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  Legislative findings and intent. (a) New York state boasts
a  diverse  array  of  colleges  and universities that enhance community
life, promote economic opportunity, improve health and safety and ensure
quality education. The New York state community solutions matching grant
program will serve as a catalyst for partnerships  between  institutions
of  higher education and communities to solve community problems through
research, outreach activities and the  exchange  of  information.  These
institutions  of  higher  education  will help to address the challenges
facing New York state communities  and  provide  critical  services  and
programs to assist the broad needs of New Yorkers.
  (b) Research and outreach activities assisted under this program shall
focus on problems associated with, but not limited to, housing, economic
development,  neighborhood  revitalization, infrastructure, health care,
job training, education, planning, community organizing and other  areas
deemed  appropriate  by  the empire state development corporation. Funds
received under this  program  shall  be  used  for  new  and  innovative
programs  that  will  address  the  problems  identified in the eligible
applicant's application or to expand and grow existing programs  run  by
the  applicant that are already addressing challenges and needs in their
community.
  S 2. The economic development law is amended by adding a  new  article
23 to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 23
        NEW YORK STATE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM
  SECTION 447. DEFINITIONS.
        S 448. FUND ALLOCATION AND GRANT AWARDS.
        S 449. FUNDING CRITERIA.

              

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11052-03-5

S. 5433                             2

        S 450. APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS.
  S 447. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
  1.  ELIGIBLE APPLICANT. THE TERM "ELIGIBLE APPLICANT" SHALL MEAN EVERY
SUNY, CUNY AND PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT COLLEGE OR  UNIVERSITY  IN  NEW  YORK
STATE.
  2.  NON-STATE  FUNDS. THE TERM "NON-STATE FUNDS" SHALL MEAN ANY FUNDS,
EXCEPT STATE FUNDS, ACCESSIBLE BY THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT FOR THE PROJECT
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED  TO,  FEDERAL  FUNDS,  LOCAL  FUNDS,  PRIVATE
FUNDS, AND IN-KIND DONATIONS.
  3.  CORPORATION.  THE TERM "CORPORATION" SHALL MEAN THE NEW YORK STATE
EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
  S 448. FUND ALLOCATION AND GRANT AWARDS. 1. WITHIN  AMOUNTS  APPROPRI-
ATED  OR OTHERWISE AVAILABLE THEREFOR, THE CORPORATION SHALL DEVELOP AND
ADMINISTER A NEW YORK STATE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS MATCHING GRANT  PROGRAM,
WHICH  SHALL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF GRANTS FOR REASONABLE AND
NECESSARY EXPENSES TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS  FOR  PROPOSED  PROJECTS  THAT
ADDRESS SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY NEEDS. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS SHALL BE ELIGI-
BLE FOR MATCHING GRANTS UP TO TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
  S  449.  FUNDING  CRITERIA. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS SHALL PROVIDE AN EQUAL
MATCHING NON-STATE FUND CONTRIBUTION FOR EACH STATE DOLLAR RECEIVED.
  S 450. APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS. 1. APPLICATIONS FOR  MATCHING
GRANTS  PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE DEVELOPED, REVIEWED AND EVALU-
ATED PURSUANT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THIS
ARTICLE. THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO  PROMULGATE  RULES  AND  REGU-
LATIONS PURSUANT THERETO.
  2.  EACH  ELIGIBLE  APPLICANT  SHALL  INCLUDE  IN  ITS APPLICATION THE
FOLLOWING:
  (A) A STATEMENT THAT THE APPLICANT HAS THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FUND
THE PROPOSED PROJECT;
  (B) A STATEMENT DESCRIBING  HOW  THE  PROPOSED  PROJECT  WILL  ADDRESS
SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY NEEDS AND PRODUCE MEASURABLE RESULTS;
  (C)  A  STATEMENT  THAT  ILLUSTRATES THE ROLE PLAYED BY ANY NON-PROFIT
PARTNERS, STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF OR OTHER INTERESTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS
IN SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED PROJECT;
  (D) A STATEMENT DISCUSSING THE STRATEGIES THE APPLICANT WILL EMPLOY TO
BUILD LONG-TERM, MUTUALLY-BENEFICIAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND  EXPLAIN
EFFORTS  TO  ENLIST  OTHER  COLLABORATORS,  INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
BUSINESSES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND/OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES;
  (E) A STATEMENT DETAILING THE PROJECT, INCLUDING ANTICIPATED  TIMELINE
AND PROJECT COSTS, INCLUDING THE SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS; AND
  (F)  A  STATEMENT OUTLINING THE TYPE OR TYPES OF NON-STATE FUNDS TO BE
USED AND THE SOURCE OR SOURCES OF SUCH FUNDS.
  3. UPON RECEIPT OF A MATCHING GRANT APPLICATION THE CORPORATION  SHALL
REVIEW  SUCH  APPLICATION  FOR TECHNICAL SUFFICIENCY AND COMPLIANCE WITH
THE APPLICATION CRITERIA IN THIS ARTICLE. IF NECESSARY, THE  CORPORATION
MAY  REQUEST  ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION  FROM  ELIGIBLE  APPLICANTS BEFORE
MAKING A DETERMINATION ON THE AWARDING OF  MATCHING  GRANTS  UNDER  THIS
ARTICLE.
  S  3. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law;  provided,  however,  that
effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date is authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.