Dear _____: It was recently announced that the Regional Economic Development Councils will conduct statewide workshops

to learn about the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process for the second round of Governor Andrew M. Cuomos initiative to stimulate job creation and economic growth. We would like to let you know that the New York Department of Labor (DOL) will be partnering with the Councils to help you learn how to access up to $750 million in economic development funding from agency programs through just a single application Under the CFA process, regions can compete for $5 million in workforce development funding to upgrade the skills of employed and unemployed workers in order to reduce layoffs. This training investment can lead to job retention, increased productivity, profitability and ultimately job creation for New York businesses. Last year, Governor Cuomo announced the creation of ten Regional Economic Development Councils to transform New Yorks approach to economic development. The Regional Councils exceeded all expectations and redefined the way New York invests in job creation. To build on that success and keep the momentum going, Governor Cuomo has launched a second round of $750 million in economic development funding, including $220 million to implement regional strategic plans and support priority projects $150 million in capital and $70 million in tax credits from the Excelsior Jobs Program and over $530 million from state agency programs through the CFA to support regionally significant economic development projects. As part of the Regional Council initiative, the NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) was created to serve as the single application economic development projects must complete to be eligible to access the state resources that have been made available to support the Regional Councils. The CFA allows an applicant to access multiple funding sources from dozens of

existing programs through one comprehensive, web-based application, making it quicker and easier to receive funding. For the second round, the CFA will provide access to economic development resources from 21 programs across a dozen state agencies. Improvements to the CFA in 2012 have made it an even more business-friendly and productive tool for economic development. It will remain the primary portal for businesses to access state agency resources, including resources for community development, direct assistance to business, waterfront revitalization, energy and environmental improvements, sustainability, workforce development, agricultural economic development and low-cost financing. The workshops will start in the third week of May and run through the end of June at over a dozen locations across the state, covering all ten regions. The workshops will include an overview of the application and CFA process followed by informational breakout sessions on specific areas of funding available for economic development projects. State agencies and authorities making resources available in the 2012 CFA include: Empire State Development; NYS Canal Corporation; NYS Energy Research and Development Authority; NY Power Authority; Environmental Facilities Corporation; Homes and Community Renewal; Department of Labor; Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Department of State; New York Power Authority; Agriculture and Markets; Department of Environment Conservation; and the Council on the Arts. Applicants must submit their CFA by July 16, 2012. In addition, the New York Power Authority and Economic Development Power Allocation Board (EDPAB) will be using the CFA to implement Recharge New York, a new, low-cost power program for New York businesses and not-forprofits. NYSERDA will continue to accept applications to its open enrollment programs until all funds have been exhausted Once the CFA is submitted by the applicant, it goes to the local Regional Council to be reviewed and ranked as part of its strategic planning process. Application materials are available online at http://nyworks.ny.gov. Schedule for CFA Workshops:

REGION DATE TIME

Western NY 5/15/201 26/7/201 2 6/7/201 2:00-5:00pm 8:30am11:30am 2:00pm-

CITY

LOCATION

2 5/15/201 5:00pm 5:30-8:00pm 2

Buffalo Buffalo State College, Bulger Hall Niagara Conference Center Niagara Falls Falls Jamestown Jamestown Community College Geneva Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Finger Lakes

Central NY

5/16/201 5:30-8:00pm 2 5/23/201 5:30-8:00pm 2 6/18/201 5:30-8:00pm 2 5/18/201 1:00pm2 5/30/201 3:30pm 1:00pm2 6/13/201 3:30pm 1:00pm2 5/22/201 2 5/24/201 26/8/201

Rochester Batavia Rochester Cortland Oswego

Memorial Art Gallery Genesee Community College Monroe Community College SUNY Cortland SUNY Oswego, Lanigan Hall Onondaga Community College, Storer Auditorium Corning Community College SUNY Morrisville Ext Binghamton University, Old Union Hall Mohawk Valley Community College Fulton-Montgomery Community College

Southern Tier Mohawk Valley North Country

Syracuse 3:30pm 5:308:00pm Corning 10:00Norwich 12:30am 12:002:30pm Binghamton 2 5/14/201 2:00-4:30pm Utica 2 5/24/201 2:00-4:30pm Johnstown 2 6/14/201 3:00-5:30pm Oneonta 2 5/18/201 1:00-3:30pm 26/5/201 2:30-5:00pm 2 6/8/201 1:00-3:30pm 2 10:00am5/21/201 12:30pm 2 6/19/201 2:00pm2 6/22/201 4:30pm 9:30am2 5/16/201 2 5/23/201 2 6/25/201 12:00pm 7:00-9:30pm 7:00-9:30pm

SUNY Oneonta Watertown State Office Building Lake Placid ORDA Convention Center Plattsburgh SUNY Plattsburgh Albany Hudson Empire State Plaza Columbia-Greene Community College

Capital Region Mid-Hudson

Queensbury Adirondack Community College Purchase SUNY Purchase Middletown SUNY Orange Poughkeeps Marist College ie Queens LaGuardia Community College Staten Island Bronx Manhattan Brooklyn Garden City Farmingdal e Stony Brook College of Staten Island Hostos Community College John Jay College Medgar Evars College Adelphi University Farmingdale State College Stony Brook University

7:00-9:30pm 2 5/18/201 8:00am2 5/22/201 10:30am 9:30am26/7/201 12:00pm 8:00am2 6/21/201 2 6/28/201 2 5/22/201 26/5/201 2 6/20/201 2 10:30am 8:00am10:30am 8:00am10:30am 2:00-4:30pm 2:00-4:30pm 1:00-3:30pm

New York City Long Island