The Albany County Legislature gave the green light on Monday for two measures totaling $800,000 that will provide seed funding for the Advance Albany County Alliance and grant assistance for small businesses struggling as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The Albany County Legislature understands the hardship that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to many in our local economy – the measures that you see here are designed to ease that pain and help our businesses recover and thrive,” said Chairman Andrew Joyce. “Allocating this money now will enable us to best position Albany County for the future.”

“In 2019, I announced plans for a strategic economic development plan that would strengthen our economy for future generations. The creation of the Advance Albany County Alliance LDC is an essential piece of that vision and is desperately needed in the wake of COVID-19 and the economic shutdown,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “Until now Albany County was the only county in the region without its own economic development organization. By working with the County Legislature on securing this funding, we will be able to provide needed grant relief to local businesses and rebuild our economy even faster.”

“By funding the Advance Albany County Alliance and making funding available for our small businesses who need it most, the Albany County Legislature reaffirms its commitment to our business community,” said Majority Leader Dennis Feeney. “As this pandemic continues, we will continue to monitor and ensure Albany’s economic health.”

In the first item, legislators voted to provide the County’s new local development corporation (LDC) with $500,000 to begin its operations to streamline local economic development efforts. The new LDC was incorporated earlier this month and will use the money for staffing and start-up costs.

In the second agreement, the Legislature is providing the Advance Albany County Alliance with $300,000 to facilitate a grant program for small businesses facing hardships related to COVID-19. The grants will be for up to $5,000 that can assist in paying up to two months of back rent, up to two weeks of perishable goods and/or expenses related to retrofitting the business for COVID-19. The LDC is authorized to enter into agreements with outside entities to expedite and manage the distribution of the grants.

The recently incorporated Advance Albany County Alliance is tasked with providing the County with the tools to drive successful economic development growth throughout the region and bring other entities together by connecting stakeholders. The new LDC is seen as a long overdue piece of the local growth puzzle.

The small business grants program is the result of recommendations from the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force (CERT), which was convened by Chairman Joyce in July to analyze the recovery impact the pandemic has had on small businesses in Albany County. Members of the Task Force include Legislators Wanda Willingham, Matthew Peter and Jeff Perlee.

“This funding couldn’t come at a better time for our small businesses in Albany County,” said Wanda Willingham, chairwoman of the CERT. “This is a bold move on behalf of the Legislature and the County, a move that will only propel the County forward. This is money well spent and we are going to benefit from this in the future.”

“Small businesses are the cornerstone of our community and it’s critical that we look at ways to ensure their survival. For them, this assistance might be the difference between their doors being opened or closed for good - especially for those who have been unable to access federal funding,” said Legislator Matthew Peter. “I thank my colleagues on the CERT Task Force and fellow legislators for realizing that now is the time we must stand up for our small businesses before it is too late.”

According to the report issued by the Task Force in October, small businesses are in need of assistance in the form of small non-repayable grants, as opposed to loans, for business expenses such a rent, utilities, payroll, etc.; continued access to PPE resources; grants to cover the expense of health and safety upgrades to protect employees and the public; clearer guidance regarding the rules for reopening; consulting and technical support for technical upgrades as result of COVID19; and more coordination to promote buying local, especially among the farming enterprises.

To ensure the continued support for the small business grants moving forward, the Legislature has earmarked $100,000 in the 2021 budget, which was also approved Monday.

“It is critical that lawmakers make smart investments to ensure the future economic health of our County, especially during a pandemic. The bipartisan recommendations of the CERT Task Force will likely help a number of our businesses to survive,” said Legislator Jeff Perlee. “I am thankful to my fellow legislators for their support of this measure.”