ACCORD Announces Funding for New Business Plan Competition – $36,000 a Year in Prizes

ACCORD Announces Funding for New Business Plan
Competition – $36,000 a Year in Prizes

Belmont, NY – ACCORD is thrilled to announce
it has received funding from Empire State Development to implement a business
plan competition. The competition aims to empower entrepreneurs by providing
them with the resources and support needed to transform their concepts into
successful ventures. Participants will compete for $36,000 in cash prizes in
the Spring of 2025.

The competition is open to western New York
businesses that successfully complete the 60 hour Entrepreneurial
Assistance Center (EAC) business training course in the Fall 2024 or Spring
2025. The fall cohort is scheduled to start September 3, 2024, and will meet on
Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30p-8:30p in Belmont, New York. The business
training course incorporates education, networking, and support to empower
individuals, particularly those in marginalized groups, to navigate the
business landscape. Building a strong network
fosters valuable connections that can fuel business growth and valuable
insights.

Eligible Businesses

a.       Be organized and licensed or registered in the State
of New York;

b.       Business owner(s), owning more than 20% of the
business, must be a resident in the State of New York;

c.       Be in substantial compliance with applicable federal,
state and local laws, regulations, codes and requirements;

d.       Not owe any federal, state or local taxes, or have an
approved repayment, deferral plan, or agreement with appropriate federal,
state, and local taxing authorities;

e.       Eligible Award Recipients may not have received or
been awarded grants prizes of $1,000 or more from other contest or grant
programs;

f.       
An
entrepreneur or Small Business owner is eligible for only one award per
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Employer identification Number (EIN)
under the Program;

g.       An Eligible Award Recipient is only eligible to
receive one award for a Micro-business or Small Business; and

h.       The Eligible Award Recipient agrees to maintain the
operations of the Small Business for which the grant was approved physically
located in the State of New York for at least two years after receipt of the
grant award, to the extent the business remains operational, and reports on the
usages of grant award and sales or employment impacts.

For
more information about the Business Plan Competition or to sign up for the fall
EAC Business Training Course please contact Nicholas Baker at nbaker@accordcorp.org or 585-268-7605 extension 1711