SIDA approves funding for more than 50 small businesses, nonprofits to help with COVID-19 expenses

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Industrial Development Agency (SIDA) board of directors on Wednesday approved 52 grants and one loan to small businesses and nonprofits to help them with pandemic-related expenses.

SIDA is providing a total of $308,000 dollars in assistance to businesses and nonprofits located in or doing business in the City of Syracuse. Those businesses range from plumbers to fitness centers to theaters, the office of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said.  

SIDA in late July initially announced it would allocate $175,000 for the loan and grant program. After receiving applications totaling more than $500,000, the Board increased its allocation by an additional $133,000.

The City’s news release didn’t provide specific dollar amounts on the grants and loan that SIDA approved. When it announced the program, SIDA indicated it would provide grants of between $500 and $10,000 to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) or to acquire and install fixtures to prevent the spread of the virus. The program would also provide loans of between $3,000 and $25,000 for any purpose related to responding to the coronavirus crisis.

SIDA approved applications for purchases including face masks and shields, thermometers, clear plastic dividers, touchless faucets, and air purification filters for furnaces.

“The pandemic affects our lives every day, and it continues to take a steep toll on small businesses and non-profits. Many are in jeopardy of closing their doors, which would be devastating to our City,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said. “The response to SIDA’s offering is an indication of the need that exists. I want to thank SIDA for increasing its commitment to help more small businesses and non-profits get through this very difficult time.”

 

Funding recipients

SIDA awarded grants to 28 businesses and 24 nonprofits. SIDA also awarded a loan to the Volunteer Lawyers Project, a Syracuse nonprofit that provides legal assistance to people in needed.

The grant recipients include:

 

AMC Painting Solutions LLC

Anything But Beer

Band Personal Care Protection

Cellphone Expo

Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation

Chiodo Plumbing & Heating

CNY Dental Arts PLLC

Discovery Center (The MOST)

Dunbar Center

Everson Museum

Force

Funk ‘N Waffles

Gypsy Freedom

Heritage Bread Company

Housing Visions

Huntington Family Center

InterFaith Works of CNY

J B Brady Inc. d/b/a Brady Systems

Laci’s Ventures LLC DBA Laci’s Tapas Bar

Learning Disabilities of CNY dba LAUNCH

LiteracyCNY

M Lemp Jewelers Inc.

Mom’s  Diner

Musical Associates of Central New York (Symphoria)

MZHoque Enterprises

NE Community Center

Pamela McAlpine

Partners In Learning Inc.

Personal Fitness Programs Inc

Redhouse Arts Center Inc.

Salt City Coffee LLC

Samaritan Center Inc.

Scratch Bakehouse

Sky Armory

Southside Fitness LLC

SubCat Studios

Surf City Enterprises of Syracuse

Sweet Praxis

Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice

Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre

Syracuse City Ballet

Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union

The Cora Foundation (Art Rage)

The Reading League

The Westcott Inc.

Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County, Inc.

Westcott Community Center

Yankel & Company Catering (Today’s Special)

Yvette Edwards

Zip Networks Inc

125 East Water Street LLC (The Evergreen Restaurant)

500 West Onondaga Street, Inc.