N.Y. Economic Development Law § 211

§ 211. Development centers. 1. The department shall provide grants,\nwithin available appropriations, on a competitive basis, in response to\na request for proposals to pilot development centers, to provide\nintensive community-based management and technical assistance targeted\nprimarily to minority group members, women, individuals with a\ndisability, and veterans who are seeking to start or are starting new\nbusiness ventures.\n 2. The department shall establish criteria for selection and\ndesignation of such development centers which shall include, but not be\nlimited to:\n (a) the level of participation in the development center of local\nleaders in post-secondary education, business, finance and government;\n (b) the level of financial assistance provided at the local level to\nsupport the operations of the development center;\n (c) the applicant's understanding of program goals and objectives\narticulated by the department;\n (d) the plans of the development center to supplement state and local\nfunding through fees for services which may be based on a sliding scale\nbased on ability to pay;\n (e) the need for and anticipated impact of the development center on\nthe community in which it will function;\n (f) the quality of the proposed work plan and staff of the development\ncenter; and\n (g) the extent of economic distress in the area to be served.\n 3. Each development center shall:\n (a) be operated by a board of directors representing community leaders\nin business, education, finance and government;\n (b) be incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation;\n (c) be located in an area accessible to eligible clients;\n (d) establish an advisory group of community business experts, at\nleast one-half of whom shall be representative of the clientele to be\nserved by the center, which shall constitute a support network to\nprovide counseling and mentoring services to minority group members,\nwomen and individuals with a disability from the concept stage of\ndevelopment through the first one to two years of existence on a regular\nbasis and as needed thereafter during the first five years of a new\nventure; and\n (e) establish a referral system and linkages to existing area small\nbusiness assistance programs and financing sources.\n 4. Each development center shall provide needed services to eligible\nclients, including, but not limited to:\n (a) orientation and screening of prospective entrepreneurs;\n (b) analysis of business concepts and technical feasibility;\n (c) market analysis;\n (d) management analysis and counseling;\n (e) business planning and financial planning assistance;\n (f) referrals to financial resources; and\n (g) referral to existing educational programs for training in such\nareas as marketing, accounting and other such training programs as may\nbe necessary and available; and\n (h) referral to business incubator facilities, where appropriate, for\nthe purpose of entering into agreements to access shared support\nservices.\n