Press Release

Gillibrand Announces $55.4 Million In New Lending To New York Small Businesses, Help Create Jobs

Sep 15, 2011

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the approval of  New York’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) application. The allocation is expected to spur more than $550 million in small businesses lending to help create new private sector jobs. The funding comes through the Small Business Jobs Act that Senator Gillibrand voted to pass last year.

“My number one focus is creating good-paying, family-supporting jobs for New York,” Senator Gillibrand said. “But I know that government doesn’t create jobs – businesses do. And small businesses are the most powerful economic engine we have. When we increase capital for small businesses, we can help get more new businesses off the ground, help existing businesses grow and thrive, and create more good-paying jobs.”

Under the Small Business Jobs Act, New York can access $55.4 million in SSBCI funds. New York expects to generate a minimum of at least $10 in new private lending for every $1 in federal funding. The $55.4 million allocation for New York is expected to support more than $550 million in new private lending.

Small businesses are responsible for half of all private sector jobs and 70 percent of all new jobs created in the last decade. But nearly 60 percent of all small business report having trouble getting the credit they need.

The New York State Department of Economic Development, in cooperation with the Empire State Development Corporation, will use these funds to support a the New York Capital Access Program ($19 million); the Innovate New York Fund ($26 million), a new fund of funds program for early stage companies; and the New York Bonding Guarantee Assistance Program ($10 million). 

Click here for more information about the SSBCI.