This application form captures preliminary information for a business seeking a Small Business Grant. Before proceeding, LISC recommends that respondents read the online FAQ for more information about the East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program.

Note: This grant opportunity is first-come first served. If you submit multiple applications, only the latest application and timestamp will be reflected in the submission portal.

Terms and Conditions

Applicants may apply once for this round and for one business only. For business owners with multiple businesses, please complete this application based on your largest business owned. Each grant is limited to one grant per individual business tax ID. Awards will be made to qualified businesses, and eligibility is based on accurate and complete submission.

Priority will be given especially to entrepreneurs of color, women- and veteran-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically under-served places who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital. All awardees will have to certify that they are promoting the best interests of the community. Nonprofit organizations are ineligible for this application. Round 1 and 2 awardees are ineligible for the Round 3 application.

If your business is selected as a finalist, you will be notified via email. Being selected as a finalist does not guarantee a grant will be awarded. As a finalist, additional documentation will be required, including Date of Birth, Social Security Number, Tax Identification Number, Individual Tax Identification Number and/or Employer Identification Number for the applicant and/or the business in order for us to perform the due diligence required by the program’s funding source. This due diligence inquiry may include a background search that we will conduct at our expense. If the due diligence step is successfully completed, we will ask for your business's W-9 and banking information so that we may transfer funds by ACH to your designated account. If your W-9 and banking information does not match your application, you may be ineligible to receive grant funds.

Privacy: Information provided through the application process is the responsibility of each applicant. Applications submitted to the portal remain confidential to the general public and any fellow applicants. Applicants will not hold LISC, Empire State Development or either of their respective affiliates, and/or their affiliates’ respective members, partners, officers, employees, and agents liable for any losses, damages, costs, or expenses of any kind relating to the use or the adequacy, accuracy, or completeness of any information loaded in the form. For further information please see LISC’s privacy policy. Data entered on this secure form utilizes FormAssembly. More info.

Conflict of Interest: Current directors, officers, employees and contractors of LISC or Empire State Development and such individuals' family members (spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and spouses of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren) may not be eligible to receive an award.

Publicity: If awarded, please be advised that the business/applicant’s application information, name, statements, and other information provided during the award process may be used for promotional purposes in all forms and media and the business/applicant may be contacted by LISC and/or the program sponsors for such purposes. Applicant grants to LISC and the program sponsors a perpetual license to use such information without additional compensation (except where prohibited by law), and without any right to review and/or approve such content. Until notified, applicants must agree not to share any status as a finalist publicly, including but not limited to all social media platforms, news media, or local publications.

Monitoring: LISC may monitor and conduct evaluation activity funded by the East Buffalo Small Business Grant Program. This might involve a review of quantitative or qualitative data needed to understand the impact of the fund.

Submission Guidance: LISC cannot accept changes to your application once it has been submitted, so please review it carefully. Your work may not be saved if you leave the web page before submitting the application. You may also lose your work if your internet is disconnected, or as a result of other potential web browser issues.

Attestation: Applicants acknowledge and agree that ESD funding will not duplicate reimbursement or disbursement of costs/expenses paid from another government or Covid-relief funding source.

You will see a confirmation page after successful completion of this application.

Geographic Eligibility

Qualifying businesses must be located in the area designated below. Area bounded by:

Main Street (properties fronting on both sides) south to North Street;
North Street (properties fronting on both sides) east to Michigan Ave;
Michigan Street (properties fronting on both sides) south to I-190;
I-190 east to the Northfolk-Southern RR overpass and the Buffalo River;
Buffalo River east to the City of Buffalo border; and
City of Buffalo border north to Main Street (excluding the University at Buffalo South Campus)

1. I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions stated above:

YesNo

Thank you for your interest in the East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program. We will be unable to process any grant application to your business without agreement to the terms and conditions.

Based on your answers, you have not accepted the terms and conditions. If you have entered your information incorrectly, please select 'Previous Page' and correct your responses.

If you have questions or clarifications, please email us at EastBuffaloBusinessGrant@lisc.org.

Final Step: Please review the information below, e-sign and submit your application:

Thank you for completing your application. Please click 'Submit' below to complete your submission.

If your business is selected as a finalist, you will be notified via email. Being selected as a finalist does not guarantee a grant will be awarded. As a finalist, additional documentation will be required, including Date of Birth, Social Security Number, Tax Identification Number, Individual Tax Identification Number and/or Employer Identification Number for the applicant and/or the business in order for us to perform the due diligence required by the program’s funding source.

This due diligence inquiry may include business verification that we will conduct at our expense. If the due diligence step is successfully completed, we will ask for W-9 and appropriate banking information so that we may transfer funds by ACH to your designated account.

For general questions, please check the Frequently Asked Questions regularly for updates about the LISC Small Business Grant. For additional questions not answered by the Frequently Asked Questions, please email EastBuffaloBusinessGrant@lisc.org. We are monitoring this email regularly and updating our Frequently Asked Questions accordingly.

For data security questions, please review LISC’s Privacy Policy.

By signing your name and submitting the application below, you confirm that the information provided about you and your business are true in all material respects.