New York Consolidated Funding Application (CFA)
Empire State Development / NY Regional Economic Development Councils
Varies by program
One application, dozens of NY state funding sources
New York's one-stop economic development funding portal that lets businesses, nonprofits, and local governments apply once to be considered for dozens of state funding programs simultaneously — including ESD grants, DOL workforce funds, EFC environmental loans, DASNY bonds, HCR housing funds, and more. Projects compete within one of 10 Regional Economic Development Council areas. Annual round typically opens summer and closes fall.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $25,000 – $10,000,000
- Realistic amount
- Most SMB applicants receive $100,000–$750,000 through ESD Grants for Growth or regional priority project funds. Manufact…
- Deadline
- Annual round — typically opens June/July and closes in October. Check regionalcouncils.ny.gov for current cycle dates.
- Status
- active
- States
- NY
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Project must be located within a New York State REDC region
- Business or nonprofit must demonstrate economic impact (job creation, job retention, or significant capital investment)
- Projects evaluated on alignment with regional strategic plans published by each REDC
- Business must not have outstanding liabilities to NYS (tax, benefit overpayments, etc.)
- Manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and tourism projects are typical recipients — service businesses and retail can apply for certain program streams
- Most ESD grant programs require matching investment from the applicant (typically 1:1 or higher)
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Minimum project size: $50,000
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Capital improvements to buildings and facilities
- Purchase or installation of machinery and equipment
- Workforce training and skills development costs
- Site preparation and infrastructure improvements
- Technology upgrades and system installations
- Working capital in connection with a capital project (limited)
Ineligible expenses
- Refinancing of existing debt
- Ongoing operating expenses unconnected to a capital project
- Projects that have already broken ground before award (retroactive funding)
- Speculative real estate development without tenant commitments
- Projects located outside the applicant's REDC region
How to apply
-
1
Review your REDC's strategic plan and priority projects
Each of NY's 10 regional councils publishes a strategic plan identifying priority industries and project types. Download your region's plan at regionalcouncils.ny.gov and confirm your project aligns before investing application time.
~8 hrs
-
2
Contact your regional ESD office or REDC coordinator
Schedule a pre-application meeting with the regional ESD representative or REDC coordinator. Staff can tell you which underlying funding programs your project qualifies for within the CFA and flag any eligibility issues early.
~8 hrs
-
3
Gather required documentation
Prepare 3-year financial statements or projections, project description, job creation/retention plan, cost estimates or bids, environmental review documentation if applicable, and IRS EIN. The CFA application manual specifies required attachments by program.
~8 hrs
-
4
Submit the CFA application online before the annual deadline
Complete the CFA application at apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/. A single application is submitted and automatically considered for all programs your project is eligible for. Attach all supporting documents before submitting.
~8 hrs
-
5
REDC scoring and award announcement
Regional councils score projects in fall and submit priority lists to the Governor's office. Awards are announced at the annual REDC conference in December. Successful applicants receive conditional award letters and must complete contracting before receiving funds.
~8 hrs
Projects flagged as 'regionally significant' by REDC staff before submission score materially higher. One pre-app meeting with your regional coordinator is worth 20 hours of polishing the application narrative.
Deadline & timing
The CFA runs one competitive cycle per year. The Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) score projects in the fall and announce awards by year-end. Missing the annual deadline means waiting a full year. Contact your regional REDC coordinator before applying — relationship with regional staff meaningfully affects how projects are prioritized.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.