Does your business need financing, but the bank will not fund your venture? Do you or someone you know have a great idea for a business, but no capital to get things started? Are you looking to expand your business, but lack the necessary capital?

The SEED Program may be able to help! SEED is a character based micro-loan program that is funding entrepreneurs based off of character of the entrepreneur and capacity of the business.

Program Components

Loans up to $35,000
Entrepreneurial Training Classes
One on One Business Counseling
Interns to Assist with Business Plan Development
Peer Support Network

Since the program was established, SEED has successfully funded 28 entrepreneurs that would not have been eligible for tradiional commercial loan programs.

For more information:

Contact Ryan Busch

518-380-5070

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SEED is possible due to a unique partnership between SEFCU, the Small Business Development Center, University at Albany School of Business, University at Albany School of Social Welfare, and NYS Empire State Development.

Update from The Business Council - April 23, 2013

Environment and Energy

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S.3057 (Lavalle)/A.3885 (Thiele), Oppose, Establishes the Solar Feed-in Tariff Pilot Program - This legislation establishes the solar feed-in tariff pilot program and directs the Long Island Power Authority to pay all costs associated with the interconnection of solar energy generation facilities.

A.1046 (Sweeney) / S.674 (Avella), Oppose, Uniform Treatment of Waste – This legislation would require waste produced from oil and natural gas activities to be classified as “hazardous”.

S.3466 (Avella) / A.6220 (Colton), Oppose, Oil and Gas Drilling Labor Mandates – This legislation would institute a separate series of work place standards for oil and gas worker and their contractors.

A.6558 (Sweeney), Oppose, Preparation for Sea Level Rise - This legislation requires the consideration of future climate risk including sea level rise projections and other weather-related data.

Workers' Compensation Law

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S.1745 (Robach)/A.2653 (Simotas), Oppose, Relates to Prescription Prices and Pharmecies for Injured Employees - This legislation would reduce the cost-saving benefit of pharmaceutical networks in the workers' compensation system by allowing claimants to by-ass network pharmacies.

S.76 (Peralta), Oppose, Relates to Permanent Total Disability - This legislation would amend the workers' compensation law to presume permanent total disability for claimants who are found eligible for federal social security disability benefits.

Health

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S.3478 (Gipson) / A.5174 (Cahill), Oppose, Lyme Disease and Other Tick Borne Related Pathogen Coverage Mandate and Workers' Comp Presumption - This legislation would require health insurance companies to provide long term medical care for lyme disease and othe rtick borne related pathogens.

A.5692 (Gottfried) / S.3690 (Hannon), Oppose, Collective Negotiations by Health Care Providers - This bill would require collective negotiations by health care providers with certain health benefit plans.

S.4526 (Hannon) / A.6519 (Silver), Oppose, Creates the Freelancers Health Plan Demonstration Program - This legislation creates a new exception from the community rating law for the Freelancers Union, allowing only that organization the opportunity to offer experience rated insurance products.

The Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome First Columbia as an investor in the Chamber's Economic Development Partnership. First Columbia is a diversified real estate/investment organization committed to planning, developing, and operating high quality facilities. First Columbia is known for meeting market demand, considering both design and operating detail in all of our properties. To find out more information about First Columbia, please visit their website at www.FirstColumbia.com.

Award Allocations by Region

• Central New York: $93.8 million
• North Country: $90.2 million
• Long Island: $59.7 million
• Western New York: $52.8 million
• Mid-Hudson: $92.8 million
• Southern Tier: $91.1 million
• Finger Lakes: $96.2 million
• Mohawk Valley: $59.7 million
• New York City: $51.4 million
• Capital Region: $50.3 million