CenterState CEO, KeyBank announce $150K small business emergency relief grant program

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO on Friday announced a $150,000 small-business stabilization fund from which grants are available for “under-resourced” small businesses affected by COVID-19 in Onondaga County.

The fund is provided by the KeyBank Business Boost & Build program, which is powered by Cleveland, Ohio–based JumpStart Inc.

On its website, JumpStart describes itself as an organization that “unlocks the full potential of diverse and ambitious entrepreneurs to economically transform entire communities.”

Administered by CenterState CEO’s Up Start program, the fund is part of a plan to deploy $500,000 in relief funds to small-business communities throughout upstate New York in response to the economic hardship caused by the pandemic.

Eligible minority and women-owned businesses in the health and wellness, service, hospitality, and lifestyle industries can receive grants of up to $5,000 per business, while funds last, and “ideally prioritized for those who could not get or were not eligible for emergency relief funding through the [U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)].”

“All of us in Central New York have been touched by the COVID-19 crisis and our small businesses have been hit especially hard,” Stephen Fournier, KeyBank Central New York market president, said in a statement. “KeyBank and our partners at JumpStart are committed to helping our community move forward with crucial funding, assistance and hope.”

KeyBank (NYSE: KEY), which operates branches throughout upstate New York, is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

This fund is intended to fill “identified gaps” in available emergency relief funding, while also providing wrap-around services in the form of technical assistance and one-on-one business consultation.

These resources will be provided by the KeyBank Business Boost & Build C.U.S.E. Collaborative partners, including Up Start, the South Side Innovation Center, WISE Women’s Business Center, and Upstate Minority Economic Alliance.

“In our position as community connectors and advocates, CenterState CEO will help ensure that our small businesses have access to resources that can help them during this unprecedented economic crisis,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said. “For years, KeyBank and JumpStart have been important partners in helping build our neighborhood businesses. We are grateful for this investment and their continued support.”

The Friday announcement coincides with the start of National Small Business Month, CenterState CEO said in its news release.

The application is available at the following website:

 https://fs4.formsite.com/2yTmtI/SYRSmallBizGrant/index.html