Eligibility is limited to cities, towns, and villages located in non-entitlement areas with a population under 50,000 and counties with an unincorporated population of 200,000 are eligible to apply for CDBG funding. Eligible applicants must be in substantial compliance with all applicable State and Federal laws, regulations, and Executive Orders that pertain to the CDBG Program.  

Down load the eligible community list here.

For additional CDBG Program details go to: https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant

The CDBG Business Expansion and Startup (BEST) Program provides funds to eligible local governments to assist qualifying businesses undertake activities that result in the creation of job opportunities for persons from low to moderate income families.  

The NYS CDBG Economic Development Program includes two sources of funds: assistance to a stand-alone business, and the microenterprise development program, which provides funds to support multiple micro-businesses under one CDBG award. For the purposes of the NYS BEST Program, a microenterprise is defined as a commercial enterprise that has five (5) or fewer employees, one (1) or more of which is the principal and owns the enterprise at the time of application. This includes part-time and full-time employees.

An eligible microenterprise is a private, for-profit business entity; corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships that are legal, licensed and operating.  Not-for-profit entities are not microenterprises.

Similarly, assistance may be offered on an individual basis to a private, for-profit business entity; corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships that are legal, licensed and operating.

Assistance to not-for-profits is not an eligible use of CDBG Economic Development funds. Funding is provided to eligible communities to provide financial assistance to for-profit businesses for an identified CDBG eligible activity which will result in the creation or retention of permanent, private sector job opportunities, a majority of which must be taken by or made available to low-moderate income persons.

Eligible costs include, but are not limited to acquisition of real property; the financing of machinery, furniture, fixtures and equipment; building construction and renovation (stand-alone projects only, not eligible for microenterprises); working capital; inventory; and employee training expenses.

Note that the use of NYS CDBG funds toward construction and renovation costs are subject to Davis Bacon Wage Rate requirements. This includes the cost of equipment that requires installation, as well as the purchase of materials used for construction activities.

Projects that include assistance to a stand-alone business must result in jobs that are created or retained, a majority of which are held by and/or made available to persons from LMI families.

-“taken (or held) by” - a job is considered to be taken by an LMI person if, at the time their employment starts, that person is a member of a family whose income falls at or below the applicable Section 8 Income Limits; in the instance of retention, a job must be either held by LMI persons at the time CDBG assistance is provided and/or expected to turn over to LMI persons within two years.

-“available to” - A job is considered to be made available to an LMI person if the position does not require special skills acquired from substantial training or work experience, and education beyond high school is not a prerequisite to employment. Also, the assisted business must take actions to ensure that LMI persons receive first consideration for filling such jobs

Microenterprises (defined as businesses with 5 or fewer employees including the owner) have the additional option to meet HUD's national objective if the owner(s) themsleves are LMI. For microenterprises that are owned and operated by more than one individual, a majority of the owners must qualify as LMI in order to meet that National Objective.

*A business owner cannot be counted towards job creation.

If any project costs, regardless of their funding source, are incurred prior to the CDBG award date and the approval of the Request for Release of Funds by the Office of Community Renewal, the entire project may be deemed ineligible for CDBG funds.

Pursuant to the NYS CDBG Program, applicants should only apply for the amount of funding that can be fully expended and the type of activities that can be completed within the specified project completion period of twenty-four (24) months. Applicants should not proceed with a project that cannot be completed within the specified timeframe or with the assumption that an extension of the project deadline will be considered.

All proposed job creation, or low- to moderate-income owner assistance must be completed, and all accomplishments must be reported to the Office of Community Renewal within the twenty-four month project completion period.

To determine the US Congressional District, click HERE

To locate a Zip Code, click HERE

If applying in the name of a business please type in the name as it appears on your business papers. If applying as an individual insert your name here.

To look up a zip code, click HERE

Please include details relevant to all programs on this application. Programs on this application are: {{program_list}}

Provide a brief summary of the need for the project in the geographic area proposed, the project's financing needs, including funding gaps and, where applicable, describe the additional short and long term jobs that will be created through the development of the proposed project.

 Complete the form in the link and upload as an attachment.

For microenterprise activities, use the form found here:https://hcr.ny.gov/pre-submission-job-creation-table-me

For stand-alone economic development activities, use the form found here: https://hcr.ny.gov/pre-submission-job-creation-retention-table

For stand-alone economic development projects, complete the form in the link and upload as an attachment

To consider jobs retained as a result of CDBG assistance, there must be clear and objective evidence that permanent jobs will be lost without CDBG assistance.  For these purposes, "clear and objective" evidence that jobs will be lost would include:

• Evidence that the business has issued a notice to affected employees or made a public announcement to that effect, or
• Analysis of relevant financial records which clearly and convincingly shows that the business is likely to have to cut back employment in the near future without the planned intervention.

To meet the LMI jobs standard, 51% or more of the retained jobs must be either:

• Known to be held by LMI persons at the time CDBG assistance is provided and/or
• Jobs not known to be held by LMI persons, but which can be reasonably expected to "turn over" to LMI persons within two (2) years.  (This would involve the grant recipient or business taking actions to ensure that such a job, upon turnover, will be either taken by or made available to a LMI in a manner similar to that pertaining to a newly created job. Reference: 24 CFR 570.483(b)(4)(iii).

To consider jobs retained as a result of CDBG assistance, there must be clear and objective evidence that permanent jobs will be lost without CDBG assistance.  For these purposes, "clear and objective" evidence that jobs will be lost would include:

• Evidence that the business has issued a notice to affected employees or made a public announcement to that effect, or

• Analysis of relevant financial records which clearly and convincingly shows that the business is likely to have to cut back employment in the near future without the planned intervention.

To meet the LMI jobs standard, 51% or more of the retained jobs must be either:

• Known to be held by LMI persons at the time CDBG assistance is provided and/or

• Jobs not known to be held by LMI persons, but which can be reasonably expected to "turn over" to LMI persons within two (2) years.  (This would involve the grant recipient or business taking actions to ensure that such a job, upon turnover, will be either taken by or made available to a LMI in a manner similar to that pertaining to a newly created job, as discussed above.) Reference: 24 CFR 570.483(b)(4)(iii).

Activities must primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons by creating or retaining jobs where at least 51% of the jobs are either taken by, or made available to, low- and moderate-income persons. Jobs are counted on a full time equivalent (FTE) basis.

A job is considered to be taken by a LMI person if the person is, at the time their employment commences, a member of a family whose income falls at or below the applicable Section 8 program income limits

A job is considered to be made available to low-and moderate-income persons when both of the following are met:

• • The jobs do not require special skills that can only be acquired with substantial (i.e., one year or more) training or work experience, and education beyond high school is not a prerequisite to fill such jobs, unless the business agrees to hire unqualified persons and train them and

• • The state grant recipient and/or the assisted business takes actions to ensure that LMI persons receive “first consideration” for filling such jobs. “First consideration” means

For more information please see the CDBG BEST Program Request for Applications (RFA) - https://hcr.ny.gov/cdbg-best-program-request-applications-rfa

Applicants must provide a copy of appraisals completed if aquisition of real property is included in the project budget. This requirement applies regardless of the source of funds used for aquisition.

The underwriting analysis must specifically indicate how each of the supporting documents were evaluated to complete the underwriting. The analysis may include all the areas listed below. Attach with the analysis any items marked with “include copies of financial documents...”

Income and Projections (include copies of financial documents with the analysis)

• 2 years of historical (current) and projected financial statements with all notes and disclosures including income, balance sheet & cash flow statements.
  • In the case of a start-up enterprise provide pro-forma balance sheet at time of funding as well as projected income statement and cash flow statement for at least the first 2 years
• Profit and loss statement for 2 years, with and without CDBG
• Current and projected detail of existing debt (payments, rate, term, collateral, etc.)
• Documentation/analysis of debt Coverage Ratio (Business Cash Flow Available for Debt Service / Debt Service)
  • Minimum DCR of 1.25 before investment of CDBG
  • Minimum DCR of 1.05 after investment of CDBG (if issued as a loan)

Business Credit History and Analysis

• Credit report of the owner and/or developer
• Current personal financial statement of principal(s) with 20 percent or more ownership (less than 60 days old)
• Income Tax Returns – 3 years personal and business returns (if applicable) Personal tax returns for each business owner who owns more than 20% of the business.

Business Plan review

• Business plan
• Market analysis
• Project team

Applicants proposing microenterprise activities must submit a Program Design Plan that describes how the proposed activities will be implemented. The Program Design Plan should provide a clear and detailed description of the following program elements:

1. Eligibility - Explain who is eligible to participate, the process that will be followed to verify participant eligibility, and what activities are eligible under the program.

Entrepreneurial Training Requirement

Each microenterprise owner that is awarded a grant must complete an entrepreneurial training class prior to incurring project costs and requesting CDBG grant funds. Owner(s) of the microenterprise must attend the entrepreneurial training. Attendance by the employees does not satisfy this requirement. If the microenterprise is owned and operated by more than one individual, at least one person must complete the training program.

The training requirement must provide the fundamentals of owning and operating a business. The training program should help entrepreneurs develop business skills. At minimum, the training program must consist of the following elements:

• Developing a business plan
• Legal issues
• Taxes
• Recordkeeping
• Accounting
• Financing
• Marketing, advertising
• Employee issues

NYS CDBG Microenterprise training funds cannot be used to subsidize the cost of conducting a training program. NYS CDBG funds may used to reimburse the microenterprise business owner(s) for participating in an entrepreneurial training course. Reimbursement will not occur until the owner has successfully completed the course and has been awarded a NYS CDBG Microenterprise grant. The receipient must demonstrate that the business has completed the course by providing a certificate of completion or similar.

This attachment is a draft of the application and any other materials that you will require microenterprise program applicants to complete in order to be considered for assistance. Please note that it is the responsibility of the Recipient to underwrite each grant application.  The purpose of the underwriting is to select microenterprise projects which are financially viable and make the most effective use of the NYS CDBG Microenterprise funds.  In addition to HUD's underwriting criteria, the grants provided must be underwritten using typical commercial financing underwriting criteria.  The draft application should request sufficient information for the Recipient to complete the required underwriting. Refer to the NYS CDBG BEST Request for Applications (RFA) for additional guidance: https://hcr.ny.gov/cdbg-best-program-request-applications-rfa

The Recipient's Microenterprise Grant Committee should be diverse and include qualified individuals from related professions, such as bankers, business owners, attorneys, etc.

Applicants proposing Microenterprise Programs that include soft costs such as classroom instruction, technical assistance to businesses, marketing, etc. must provide supporting cost documentation.

For stand-alone projects, third-party costs would include any goods or service provided by an outside source. This could include but is not limited to machinery/equipment, furniture, fixtures & equipment and soft costs, construction/renovation, and any associated soft costs.

The form can be found at:  

https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant-economic-development-program

The appropriate forms can be found on the NYS Comptroller's Office website here:

https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-vendors/vendrep/not-profit-non-construction-questionnaire

Applicants must meet the citizen participation requirements at 24 CFR 570.486 and NYS Homes and Community Renewal's Citizen Participation Plan as amended, which require Applicants to follow a citizen participation plan. Prior to submitting a CDBG application, Applicants must issue a public hearing notice and hold one public hearing (one in each jurisdiction of a joint application) allowing for citizen feedback on the community and economic development needs of the applicant community and any proposed project(s). When issuing the notice and holding the public hearing, please note the following:

• All hearings must also be conducted in accordance with the New York State Open Meetings Law (Public Officers Law, Article 7)
• The municipality must provide a minimum seven (7) day period between the publication of the hearing notice and the hearing itself. Note that the date of publication is day "zero."
• The hearing notice must be conspicuously posted in one or more public locations at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the actual hearing. This may also be accomplished by posting to the municipal website
• The hearing must be conducted by a quorum of the legislative body of the municipality only, not by a sub recipient, department or arm of the applicant
• The notice for the hearing must specifically mention the municipality’s intent to apply for NYS CDBG funds and the current program year
• The notice must identify all activities that the Applicant may be applying for during current program year, which may include Housing, Public Infrastructure/Facilities, Economic Development, or Community Planning
• Public hearings must be held in a location accessible to persons with disabilities and/or provide reasonable accommodations to allow all interested parties to participate
• The municipal resolution authorizing the public hearing, the hearing notice, affidavit of publication, list of attendees, hearing minutes, and evidence of conspicuous public posting must be included as an attachment to the application
• A copy of the application must be available for public inspection at the municipal office(s).

Applicants may also refer to the "Public Hearing Requirements" document located here: https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant#forms-and-documents

A draft environmental review record (ERR) is required at full application. This means that required resolutions and publications may not have been passed or published. 

A draft ERR will include, at the very least:

•    Identification of the Certifying Officer (CO)
•    Draft forms
    - SEQR determination and supporting information if applicable
    - NEPA classification determination and statutory checklist
•    Documentation of all agency consultations
    - This must include request to agency and response
    - All relevant maps must be included
    - SHPO documentation
    - THPO documentation, this specifically must be completed by the Certifying Officer
•    Draft public notices
 

SEQR - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation: https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/357.html

Environmental Review documents are located on the CDBG website here: https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant#forms-and-documents

 The form can be found at:

https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant

https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant

Please attach form 8-1, Project Team, found on the OCR website: https://hcr.ny.gov/project-team-form

Fair Housing - All applicants are required to report whether within the past ten (10) years they have been the subject of any housing discrimination proceeding before a federal, states, and/or local adjudicatory body. The applicant shall:

A. Provide the final disposition or indicate that the proceeding is pending;

B. Provide a brief description of the complaint and procedural history for cases that are pending or the final administrative and/or court orders.   

If the applicant has not been subject to a fair housing discrimination complaint, upload a statement disclosing that fact.

Section 3 - For all proposed projects that would result in CDBG assistance in excess of $200,000, applicants must submit a Section 3 Compliance Plan. The Section 3 compliance plan describes the manner in which recipients of CDBG financial assistance will, to the greatest extent possible, provide job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.

A sample Compliance Plan is available at: https://hcr.ny.gov/fair-housing-section-3-compliance

Please refer to the CDBG Request for Applications (RFA) for further information on Fair Housing and Section 3 requirements: https://hcr.ny.gov/cdbg-best-program-request-applications-rfa or visit the HCR Fair & Equitable Housing Office website: https://hcr.ny.gov/feho  

This documentation could include, but may not be limited to, denial/rejection letters from banks or letters from any other agencies indicating that funding requests were not approved.

The proposed project must meet a federal national objective pursuant to Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 Section 101(c), Section 104(b), 24 CFR 570.483.

A minimum of fifty-one percent (51%) of the jobs that are created or retained as a result of an economic development award must be either held by and/or made available to persons from low- and moderate- income (LMI) families.

Jobs “held by” LMI persons: A job is considered to be held by a LMI person if the person is, at the time their employment commences, a member of a family whose income falls at or below the applicable Section 8 program income limits. The family’s entire income must be counted (this is particularly important when dealing with part-time jobs or jobs taken by students). The annual salary or hourly wage of the job that the person fills is irrelevant.

Jobs “available to” LMI persons: Jobs that are not held (filled) by LMI persons may be claimed to be “available to” LMI persons only when both of the following are met:

• The jobs do not require special skills that can only be acquired with substantial (i.e., one year or more) training or work experience, and education beyond high school is not a prerequisite to fill such jobs, unless the business agrees to hire unqualified persons and train them; and
• The state grant recipient and/or the assisted business takes actions to ensure that LMI persons receive “first consideration” for filling such jobs.

Principles involved in providing “first consideration”:

• The business must use a hiring practice that under usual circumstances would result in over 51 percent of LMI persons interviewed for applicable jobs being hired;
• The business must seriously consider a sufficient number of LMI job applicants to give reasonable opportunity to fill the position with such a person; and
• The distance from residence and availability of transportation to the job site must be reasonable before a particular LMI person may be considered a serious applicant for the job.

The form can be found at: https://hcr.ny.gov/smart-growth-project-compliance-form

Recipients of the NYS CDBG Economic Development funds must assess the eligibility of a business and complete underwriting for economic development activities in the evaluation of projects. HUD provides basic underwriting guidelines:  

• Project Costs Are Reasonable -  Review the project budget including detailed sources and uses of funds. If the budget is overinflated, there may be a waste of scarce public resources and a surplus can end up as an additional fee to a developer or entrepreneur; conversely, if the budget is understated, the success of the project may be affected, which could reduce the income available for debt service. To determine whether the costs are reasonable the Grantee should compare the applicant’s proposal with costs of comparable projects and industry standards
• Sources are Committed – The OCR wants to avoid the risk of approving and disbursing funds to fund a portion of the project without sufficient funds from other sources to complete the development. Therefore, the Grantee must prove that all other sources of funds need to be in place prior to application.
• CDBG Funds are Not Substituted for NonFederal Funds - The Grantee needs to establish the need for public investment by demonstrating the owner’s limited personal equity and demonstrating that a bank or private financing institution has reached their lending limit to the project or will not lend to the project
• Project Feasibility - The project or venture should be viable with the CDBG investment. The project should be able to achieve a level of operation that is successful in the near and long term. The project should provide sufficient cash flow to repay any debt and provide a reasonable return on equity invested.
• Owner’s Equity Return is Reasonable - An owner strives to receive a reasonable Rate of Return (ROR) based on market and type of business. The ROR should be reasonable given the equity invested and risk taken. Projects must be compared to similar ventures in similar regions.
• CDBG Funds Disbursed Pro Rata -  Where applicable, CDBG funds should be disbursed in proportion to the percentage of the project they fund.

See Appendix A to 24 CFR Part 570 - Guidelines and Objectives for Evaluating Project Costs and Financial Requirements for further guidance.

A thorough financial underwriting of the business and proposed project must be conducted and submitted with the full application. Each of the six (6) criteria listed above must be addressed.

Unique Entity ID: https://sam.gov/content/home

Stand-alone Economic Development

• • Maximum award amount of $750,000 (minimum $100,000).
  • NYS CDBG can fund up to 40% of a total project cost, not to exceed maximum award amount. Applicants may request up to 50% for projects where cash equity meets or exceeds 20% of the total project costs
  • Projects must result in the creation or retention of at least one permanent, FTE job for every $15,000 of NYS CDBG funds awarded.
  • At least 51% of the jobs created or retained by the project must benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
  • NYS CDBG funds should be used as gap funding to induce project completion.

Small Business Incentive for companies with 25 employees or less

• • Award amounts of $25,000 to $100,000 for assistance to individual business.
  • Projects must result in the creation or retention of at least one FTE job per $25,000 of CDBG funds provided.
  • At least 51% of the jobs created or retained by the project must benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
  • NYS CDBG can fund up to 40% of a total project cost. Applicants may request up to 50% for projects where cash equity meets or exceeds 20% of the total project costs

             Microenterprise

• • Award amounts of $300,000 for a program of assistance
  • Up to $35K per business
  • 10% owner cash equity
  • Required program design plan and entrepreneurial training

NOTE: The maximum awards are not intended to serve as a target figure for requests for assistance. The amount of CDBG assistance should be based on need and CDBG funds should not be used to reduce the amount of non-federal financial support for the project.

Reference the CDBG BEST program request for applications (RFA) for additional guidance: https://hcr.ny.gov/cdbg-best-program-request-applications-rfa

The description should include the following:

• A description of existing industry in the community (i.e. warehousing, manufacturing, agriculture);
• Demographic information including median family income and percentage of persons in poverty;
• A description of the labor force needs, including a discussion of the unemployment rate in the community and region, and the skills available or lacking in the labor market;
• The most recent calendar year’s county-wide unemployment data as provided by the New York State Department of Labor.  Provide data for yearly and monthly averages;
• A description of disinvestment in the community, as evidenced by recent business closures over the last five years;
• An explanation of how the proposed project supports designated Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, NYS Excelsior Program and NYS Empire Zones;
• Description of the proposed project’s relationship to other community development activities underway or planned;
• Description of any municipal strategic or comprehensive redevelopment plans; long-range strategy or community needs assessment survey that the project supports and how the project addresses the needs identified in the plan(s), strategy or community needs assessment. 
• Explain why the proposed project is the best approach to addressing the need identified. Provide the date the plan(s) was adopted and the term of the plan.  Do not submit plans, strategies or surveys with your application;
• Explain how the project will support or complement other public works, housing, economic development, main street revitalization or other community goals, particularly those that benefit (direct or indirect) LMI persons. 

For stand-alone projects, program delivery and grant administration costs combined may not exceed $16,000 out of the total CDBG funds requested.

For the Microenterprise Program, an applicant may request up to 20% of the total CDBG grant amount to cover grant administration costs, program delivery costs and entrepreneurial training reimbursement costs.  Of the 20% maximum, administration costs cannot exceed 10% of the total CDBG grant amount requested.

Grant Administration Costs may include:

• Providing local officials and citizens with information about the program;
• Preparing program budgets and schedules and amendments thereto;
• Developing systems for assuring compliance with program requirements;
• Costs associated with the Environmental Review Process for the overall program, including the release of funds.
• Preparing Requests for Proposals with consultants for grant administration or other consulting work, such as architectural or Engineering services.
• Developing interagency agreements and agreements with sub recipients and contractors to carry out program activities;
• Monitoring program activities for progress and compliance with program requirements;
• Preparing reports and other documents for submission to the State regarding the grant;
• Coordinating the resolution of audit and monitoring findings;
• Evaluating program results against State objectives; and
• Managing or supervising persons whose primary responsibilities with regard to the program include such assignments as those described above;
• Costs incurred for official business travel in carrying out the program and administrative services performed under a third party contract.
• Purchase of capital equipment, such as file cabinets, for grant administration.
• Training on CDBG grant administration requirements
• General operating expenses are ineligible for reimbursement from the grant funds.

Program Delivery Costs are those costs that can be directly attributed to activities for delivery of specific proposed activities such as:

• Marketing grant activities;
• Services verifying client eligibility;
• Providing education or counseling to beneficiaries;
• Preparation of site specific environmental review and environmental assessment;
• Preparation of loan closing documents, all costs associated with perfecting security, repayment processing, loan disbursement;
• Professional service fees including engineering and architectural fees required to deliver the program and review of project documentation, etc.
• Legal expenses related to construction such as temporary or permanent easements and filing fees;
• Any required building or regulatory permit or fees associated with regulatory compliance;
• Client/contractor troubleshooting; and
• Any other professional services required to deliver the program. These include in-house staff or third party costs.

Reference the NYS Office of Community Renewal Grant Administration Manual, Chapter 3, for examples of Grant Administration and Program Delivery Costs: https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant-economic-development-program. OMB Circular A-87 establishes principles and standards for determining whether specific costs are allowable under the NYS CDBG program.  The uniform approach established in this circular for determining costs promotes effective program delivery and efficiency.

24CFR570.489(e) defines program income as gross income in an amount equal to or exceeding $35,000 per year received by a state, unit of general local government (UGLG) or a subrecipient of UGLG that was generated from the use of CDBG funds. All funds received from revolving loan funds are considered program income, regardless of amount.

Types of CDBG program income include, but are not limited to, the following:

• payments of principal and interest on loans made using NYS CDBG funds;
• interest earned on funds held in a revolving fund account;
• proceeds from the disposition by sale or long term lease of real property purchased or improved with NYS CDBG funds; and
• proceeds from the disposition of equipment purchased with NYS CDBG funds

Please note that any project funded through NYS CDBG and which may result in program income being generated, may be required to submit a Program Income Plan.

A full Program Income Report for all program income generated as a result of NYS CDBG funded activities will be collected on an annual basis through the Annual Performance Report (APR).

For more information on CDBG program income, please refer to the NYS CDBG Grant Administration Manual, Chapter 3: https://hcr.ny.gov/cdbg-grant-administration-manual-chapter-3-financial-management

Reference Chapter 11, 'Reporting Requirements" of the NYS OCR Grant Administration Manual for guidance on job reporting requirements. The Manual can be found online, here: https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant-economic-development-program

Anti-pirating rules pursuant to Section 105 of the HCDA, Section 588 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act, Subsection (h) and 24 CFR 570.482(h).

• • • Only include jobs that have not yet been created;
    • Part-time jobs must be converted to full-time equivalents (FTE).  A FTE is any combination of two or more part-time jobs that, when combined together, constitute the equivalent of a job of at least 40 hours per week;
    • Only permanent jobs count; temporary jobs may not be included;
    • Seasonal jobs are considered to be permanent for this purpose only if the season is long enough for the job to be considered the employee's principal occupation;
    • All permanent jobs created or retained by the activity must be counted even if the activity has multiple sources of funds; and
    • Jobs indirectly created or retained by an assisted activity may not be counted; and
    • A Business Owner can not be counted towards job creation or retention.

 For activities that include equipment purchases, Davis Bacon labor standards will apply if the cost of installation of the equipment equals or exceeds 20% of the total equipment cost

 Microenterprise Program                                    

Reference Appendix A to 24 CFR Part 570 - Guidelines and Objectives for Evaluating Project Costs and Financial Requirements for further guidance.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/part-570

 In counting the jobs, the following policies apply: Part-time jobs must be converted to full-time equivalents (FTE).  An FTE is any combination of two or more part-time jobs that, when combined together, constitute the equivalent of a job of at least 40 hours per week.

The HUD Family Income limits are updated each calendar year. The limits for each year are available here: http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il.html