SSBCI Technical Assistance to Capital Programs (Round 2)

ESD’s Capital Access team currently administers a total of $5 million to provide technical assistance. Round 1 of TA launched in early 2025. Round 2 will utilize a total of $2,050,000 of remaining funding via this Request for Applications (RFA). This RFA will select qualified TA Providers to offer legal, accounting, and financial services to Eligible Beneficiaries with targeted outcomes, as described in Section IV.A.

Round 2 of the TA funding will target eligible beneficiaries who identify as very small businesses (VSBs) and businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI-owned businesses) that are applying for, preparing to apply for, or have previously applied for a SSBCI capital program or other federal or other jurisdiction small business programs.

ESD’s Capital Access team will select TA providers to administer a grant award in the amount of up to a maximum of **$205,000**, with a targeted program launch date of mid-February 2027, depending on the program eligibility. Eligible TA providers will use this funding, divided into an initial advance and a final advance each representing 50% of the total grant, to administer legal services, accounting services, and financial advisory services to eligible TA beneficiaries. All selected applicants will be expected to deploy the full award towards technical assistance by October 15, 2028.

Selected eligible TA providers will only offer TA services to eligible beneficiaries and must elect to provide services in three of the ten regions below and distribute services approximately equally, with one-third of total services provided in each region.

Applicants must also select one of the two tracks of technical assistance. Track one provides general technical assistance in support of five SSBCI capital programs: the Loan Guarantee Program, Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, Capital Access Program, Main Street Capital Loan Fund, and Capital Project Loan Fund. Track two provides specific technical assistance to contractors in support of three SSBCI capital programs: the Contractor Financing Program, the Surety Bond Assistance Program, and the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Fund.

Applicants must propose fixed numerical goals for the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant. [...] Eligible legal, accounting, and financial advisory services include the following. Selected TA providers must deliver services under each category.

• Legal Services
• Accounting Services
• Financial Advisory Services
• Capital Access Referral Programs

Awardees must submit quarterly operational reports to ESD for periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 for each active year.

Proposals must be sent to the designated Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/request/naa720w8xw0pvya87gyq

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted nor reviewed. There will be no exceptions.

All contacts/inquiries shall be made by email to the following address: SSBCITASmallBusiness@esd.ny.gov

The release of the final advance will depend on the Provider meeting the required 80% threshold of Year One (mid-February 2027 – December 2027) goals.

Anticipated Contract Start Date: Mid-February 2027. Close-out Deadline / Anticipated Contract End Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2028.