GRANT ASSISTANCE

Skills Training and Education Program (STEP)

Type of Grant:  Incumbent Worker Training

Purpose:  To provide funds to businesses to train incumbent workers in specific occupational skills needed by that business or industry that lead to career growth up a defined career ladder and to increased wages.

Eligible Applicants:  Private sector, for-profit or not-for-profit businesses that have four or more employees, are from an industry sector targeted as a priority by the local workforce investment area or the NGA Sector Policy Academy team, and are headquartered or have at least one physical location in New York State at the time of application

Type of Training:  Short-term occupational skills training.  Skills must be transferable.  The training must be for employees that are at one of the "rungs" of an established career ladder (an occupational category that has a defined series of ascending steps or stages) and must increase the chances that the trainee will be able to move up that ladder.

Release Date:  December 31, 2008

Due Date:  None (open-ended)

Means of Applying:  Electronic application available at https://www.labor.state.ny.us/app/STEP/index.asp.  Must also submit three signed forms and copies of the bids received from the training providers to the Department via regular mail.

Amount Available:  $4.6 million

Limitations:  $50,000.00 maximum per company per application.  $2,000.00 cap per trainee per application.  No more than $50,000.00 in STEP awards in one calendar year.  Lifetime maximum of $100,000.00 in STEP awards per company.

Contract Duration:  Maximum of six months.  No contract extensions available.

Allowable Costs:  The costs of outside vendors or in-house trainers to provide on-site or off-site classroom training, distance learning fees (i.e. the fee for the training slot; this grant will not pay for the cost of any software or hardware that may need to be purchased in order to access the instruction.)

Requirements:

    - Large firms (100 or more employees) must pay 25% of the training costs
    - All applicants must contact their LWIA prior to submitting an application
    - All trainees must receive a wage increase of 3%
    - Must receive a score of 70 pints or higher to be considered for an award

Those applicants with failing scores can revise the application and resubmit.

For more information contact Bob Zounek at LIFT.

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
The objectives of the program are to increase federal R&D funding opportunities for small businesses while meeting the R&D needs of federal agencies. Commercialization of resulting government funded research and development is a primary goal of both the federal SBIR program, and of the New York State programs which support SBIR outreach activities.

Effective in 1992, the maximum award for a Phase I increased from $50,000 to $100,000. However, each agency sets its own maximum within the guidelines established by the Small Business Administration. Currently the ten federal agencies which participate include the following:
  

    - Department of Agriculture (DOA)
    - Department of Commerce (DOC)
    - Department of Defense (DOD)
    - Department of Education (DED)
    - Department of Energy (DOE)
    - Department of Transportation (DOT)
    - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    - Health and Human Services (HHS)
    - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    - National Science Foundation (NSF)

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), offers business cost sharing assistance in two program areas: Energy Efficiency Services and the R&D Program. NYSERDA's Energy Efficiency Services program helps businesses, institutions and municipalities identify and implement technologies that reduce energy costs and improve the environment.

NYSERDA's R&D grant program works with NY businesses to develop, demonstrate and commercialize innovative environmental and energy efficiency technologies in five areas: Industry and Applications; Buildings, Energy Resources; Transportation; and Environmental Research, NYSERDA's Industry and Applications program works with NY industries to help them improve their industrial process energy efficiency, minimize wastes, develop advanced materials and control systems and promote the use of advanced materials and control systems.

LIFT is a Project Implementer for NYSERDA in such projects, please contact us for details.

Environmental Investment Program (EIP)
In addition to providing information and guidance on pollution prevention and recycling opportunities, The Long Island Forum for Technology manages efforts that meet New York State sponsorship guidelines. The program, administered by ESD's Environmental Management Investment Group, provides funding to help businesses improve their environmental performance.

"The Environmental Investment Program encourages New York State businesses and institutions to take advantage of the economic benefits resulting from environmental improvements implemented at their facilities". "Under the program, New York State invests in projects that lead to the reuse, remanufacturing or recycling of materials otherwise destined for disposal, and pollution prevention projects that lead to reductions in the volume or toxicity of waste before it is generated."

The Environmental Investment Program awards funds to qualified New York businesses, non-profit organizations and municipalities on behalf of businesses. Funds are available for capital projects; research, development and demonstration of new products and technologies; and technical assistance to help businesses achieve pollution prevention and recycling results. Proposals are reviewed on a competitive basis and applicants must be in compliance with environmental regulations at the time of award. Successful projects produce measurable results in the reduction or prevention of waste materials, pollution prevention, or reuse and/or recycling.

For more information contact Bob Zounek at LIFT.

Industrial Effectiveness Program (IEP)
The IEP is an integral part of Empire State Development's Business Competitiveness Program, a comprehensive business assistance service. IEP project assistance is available to qualified firms for Productivity Assessments, to identify and prioritize key barriers to growth and new business opportunities and Implementation of productivity and competitiveness improvement plans.

For more information contact Bob Zounek at LIFT.

New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I)
Lean Energy and Environment (LE2) Workshop
LE2 is an acronym for Lean, Energy, & Environment. It combines two programs previously developed by EPA; the Lean and Environment program and the Lean and Energy program. The Lean and Environment program offers practical strategies and techniques to Lean implementers about how to improve Lean results while achieving environmental performance goals. Similarly, the Lean and Energy program offers practical strategies and techniques to Lean implementers about how to improve Lean results while reducing energy use, costs, and risk. LE2 combines both of these programs into a single program. The workshop will include a description to the process, overview of tools and techniques, and a review of practical examples. This training workshop will help build your understanding in conducting or determining when to request such an assessment.

The LE2 initiative is critically important to the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) because it provides a baseline against which future P2 improvements can be compared, allows savings resulting from process changes to be accurately quantified and measured, and involves the client in the problem-solving process, thus encouraging them to utilize this tool elsewhere. LE2 is an excellent supplemental tool for LIFT as Long Island’s Regional Technology Development Centers (RTDC’s). It also greatly facilitates subsequent implementation of optimized P2 technology what will show actual reductions in waste generation and energy use in addition to improvements in productivity and profitability.

For more information contact Bob Zounek at LIFT.