Section 16-v - New York state business incubator and innovation hot spot support act1.(a) The corporation is authorized, within available appropriations, to issue requests for proposals once per fiscal year to provide grants pursuant to subdivisions five and six of this section for the purposes established under this act. The corporation may designate entities, which upon application meet the requirements of subdivision two of this section as New York state incubators, and may provide grants and assistance as provided under subdivisions five and six of this section to such designated entities. "New York state incubator" shall mean a business incubation program which also provides physical space or which is a virtual incubation program that has been designated upon application by the corporation as a New York state incubator pursuant to subdivisions two and three of this section and which thereby becomes eligible for benefits, support, services, and programs available pursuant to such designation. Provided however, that virtual incubators which provide assistance to eligible businesses not in residence in one physical location, shall submit a plan of operation which sets forth the maximum number of eligible businesses to be served and their geographic distribution.(b) From among the qualified "New York state incubators", the corporation is further authorized, within available appropriations, to designate applicants as "New York state innovation hot spots." An incubator receiving a "New York state innovation hot spot" designation shall be eligible for the benefits under section thirty-eight of the tax law, subparagraph eighteen of paragraph (a) of subdivision nine of section two hundred eight of the tax law, subdivision eleven of section two hundred nine of the tax law, paragraph thirty-nine of subsection (c) of section six hundred twelve of the tax law, paragraph one of subdivision (d) of section one thousand one hundred nineteen of the tax law, and paragraph thirty-five of subdivision (c) of section 11-1712 of the administrative code of the city of New York.2. Requirements for designation. (a) An entity wishing to be designated as a New York state innovation hot spot or as a New York state incubator pursuant to this section shall be located in New York state and shall have been in existence or otherwise in operation for a period of at least three fiscal years prior to the current fiscal year, or demonstrate continuity of staffing, program, and purpose showing continuation through another auspice or governing entity, and shall have demonstrated a connection to regional sources of innovation and expertise, and that it meets the goals of creating jobs and incubating businesses with survival rates in excess of average startups, and that the program has a strategic plan to continue to meet such goals for the three years succeeding designation and that commits the program to implementing best practices. Such demonstration shall include a commitment by the sponsor to continue to maintain the program for at least three years after such designation, and to provide any reporting information that the corporation shall require.(b) In determining whether an entity shall be designated as a New York state innovation hot spot or New York state incubator, the corporation shall require that the entity meet the requirements of subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph and may consider whether the entity has developed the programs, services, and attributes in subparagraphs (iii) through (xvi) of this paragraph: (i) institutional stability and long term viability, indicated by: the sponsor's commitment to financially and programmatically maintaining the incubator for at least two years in addition to the current fiscal year; receipt of non-state public and private grant and/or other revenue sources including property rentals and program fees that are or have proven to be predictable and reliable; and manageable debt service;(ii) a strategic plan that describes the impact on the regional entrepreneurial environment that the incubator is intended to have and commits the incubator to best incubation practices and describes a defined process that accelerates commercialization and development for a client company or entity through provision of technical assistance, direct mentorship, entrepreneurial education, and business development services, including development of a business plan and markets, aid in development of the management team, product, customers, and local or regional supply chain partners, access to investment, and launching of a successful business which will employ New Yorkers;(iii) an integrated array of services which includes management guidance, technical assistance, consulting, mentoring, business plan development, aid in creation of the business entity, and ongoing counseling;(iv) opportunities for clients to network, collaborate with other business programs, and gain access to services, including through such programs as the small business development center, the local or area chamber of commerce or other business association, programs of the small business administration, and/or other similar business organizations, associations, and programs;(v) access to capital via referral or other arrangements with financial institutions, venture capitalists, angel investors, investment funds managed or financed by private entities or state or local economic development organizations, or other similar or equivalent capital sources, evidenced by written agreements, memorandums of understanding, letters of intent, or other endorsements acceptable to the corporation, and including readying clients for financial meetings and interviews;(vi) aid in accessing markets, via bid assistance or access programs that may include but are not limited to literature review, establishment of a resource documents room (physical or virtual), opportunity notification of local, state, and federal governmental and private opportunities, and identification of and introductions to potential first customers;(vii) physical office space and/or laboratory space and/or manufacturing space under a written agreement for a period not to exceed five years for any individual incubator client;(viii) policies requiring participation by clients in the incubator program, including disqualification or suspension from the program for failure to participate;(ix) criteria for acceptance and graduation from the program or physical space, and terms and conditions for ongoing relationships, if any, between the incubator and the client;(x) at least fifty percent of the total incubator budget provided from sources other than tenant rents and fees and in-kind support from the sponsoring entity, and must be from sources other than New York state government agencies;(xi) an independent advisory council or similar body that includes one or more executive officers of firms that have graduated from the incubator, local economic development professionals, and individuals with business and technology expertise in areas appropriate to the sector or concentration of clients, and the mission and goal of the incubator;(xii) a professional management and service delivery team with experience, expertise, or credentials in management, entrepreneurship, business development, or other equivalent areas;(xiii) access by clients to mentoring, advisory, or educational services, including classroom teaching, from individuals who have successfully created, grown or managed businesses or are lawyers, professional accountants, or individuals who have been in business at an executive level for at least five years;(xiv) evidence that the incubator is a center of entrepreneurial activities of a city, region, or distressed portion thereof, as documented by programs and activities coordinated with county or local economic development organizations, investor and financial clubs or institutions, or student or youth-oriented entrepreneurial activities;(xv) a partnership with other incubators in the region to offer services and opportunities for entrepreneurs and leverage regional economic development assets; and (xvi) a plan to recruit minorityand women-owned businesses for location and participation with the incubator program.(c) The corporation, subject to appropriations provided for this purpose, may approve and designate ten New York state incubator hot spots. Such designees will be required to demonstrate an affiliation with and the application support of at least one college, university or independent research institution, and that its programs and purposes are consistent with regional economic development strategies.3. Designation. (a) The corporation may designate applicants that meet the requirements of subdivision two of this section as New York state innovation hot spots or as New York state incubators.(b) As a condition of maintaining designation, each incubator shall annually submit to the corporation in a manner and according to a schedule established by the corporation: (i) updated information requested by the corporation pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section; (ii) its strategic plan, as updated along with a brief description of its success in meeting the goals of its strategic plan;(iii) a statement that the items listed in paragraph (b) of subdivision two of this section and, in the case of New York state innovation hot spots, paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section are still applicable to the operations of the incubator, or any change in applicability;(iv) a list of business enterprises served by the incubator, and in the case of New York state innovation hot spots, those clients certified as a "qualified entity" eligible for tax incentives under section thirty-eight of the tax law; and(v) such additional information as the corporation may require.(c) The corporation shall design simplified forms to aid in the submission of the data required in this subdivision, which may be submitted electronically. Such forms shall state the purposes of the required data submissions.(d) The corporation shall evaluate the operations of the New York state innovation hot spot or the New York state incubator using methods including but not limited to site visits, reports pursuant to specified information, and review evaluations. If the corporation is unsatisfied with the progress of a New York state innovation hot spot or a New York state incubator, the corporation shall notify such incubator of the results of its evaluations and the findings of deficiencies in the incubator's operations and shall allow such incubator to remedy such findings in a timely manner. For New York state innovation hot spots or New York state incubators that receive operating grants pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision five of this section, such evaluations shall include independent peer review and shall take place no less than once every three years or more frequently at the discretion of the corporation. Such independent peer review shall result in a written report that includes programmatic and fiscal evaluation of the incubation program and recommendations for improvement.(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a qualified entity that has previously been designated as a New York state incubator and has not fully disbursed any grants awarded pursuant to this section, shall continue being designated as such by the corporation for an additional three years.4. Audit. The corporation shall have the authority to audit New York innovation hot spots, New York state incubators and clients designated by such hot spots as qualified entities.5. Grants. (a) Operating grants. A program designated as a New York state innovation hot spot or as a New York state incubator shall be eligible for an operating grant in an amount to be determined by the corporation from funds appropriated to the corporation for such purpose, provided however that:(i) Any such grant shall be matched on a two-to-one basis by the institution receiving the funds and collaborative partners in the form of cash or in-kind personnel, equipment, material donations, and other facility and operations expenditures, provided that no more than fifty percent of such match shall be in-kind;(ii) A program applying for a grant shall demonstrate financial stability and long term viability, as provided in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision two of this section;(iii) A grant recipient shall agree to provide data as required to the corporation and shall agree to conform to best practices as outlined by state and/or national business incubator associations;(iv) Failure to abide by the requirements of this subdivision or to cure a default after review and agreement with the corporation shall result in loss of the grant and disqualification of the designee as a New York state innovation hot spot or as a New York state incubator; and(v) Provided that a portion of the grants shall be awarded to the New York state innovation hot spots and the New York state incubators.(b) The corporation shall make entities designated as New York state innovation hot spots or as New York state incubators aware of opportunities for funding or grants by or through the corporation or the department of economic development.(c) No deduction. In addition to the foregoing requirements, an incubator sponsor shall agree to dedicate all funds from any grants or support received pursuant to this subdivision to the operations of the incubator without deductions for indirect costs of such sponsor. In no case shall an incubator sponsor agree to provide less than eighty-five percent of all funds received pursuant to this subdivision to the operations of the incubator without exception. 6. Other assistance. The corporation may make such other aid, assistance, and resources available to New York state innovation hot spots and New York state incubators and their clients as it shall deem useful and appropriate for the furtherance of the purposes of this act, including without limitation technical assistance, aid in marketing, aid in reaching and providing entrepreneurship training opportunities to such marginalized groups as those composed of individuals who are minority, female, disabled, or poor, and others, curriculum development, and other services and resources. The corporation shall also seek assistance from other state agencies in the development of procurement and marketing resources and training opportunities for New York state innovation hot spots and New York state incubators and their clients.7. Association of incubators. The corporation may consult with a statewide entity which is a membership association of incubators and others and which has expertise in providing services to incubators for the purpose of providing services to entities designated as New York state innovation hot spots and New York state incubators and to entities seeking to apply or applying to become New York state innovation hot spots and New York state incubators or which otherwise are included as recipients of services pursuant to this section. Such services shall include advising concerning best practices of incubation and development of plans to incorporate and integrate such practices, development of data concerning incubation in this state and recommendations for improvement, aid in marketing and event sponsorship, and such other services as the corporation shall deem necessary and appropriate to the strengthening of business incubation in this state.8. New York state innovation hot spots may certify clients which meet the requirements of subdivision nine of this section as qualified entities eligible for New York state innovation hot spot program tax benefits pursuant to section thirty-eight of the tax law. Business enterprises of incubators designated as New York state incubators under paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this section may be certified by the New York state innovation hot spot if the incubator has entered into a memorandum of understanding with such hot spot establishing a process and threshold for the provision of innovation hot spot benefits to qualified enterprises or the hot spot is providing demonstrable services or assistance to the business enterprise in addition to those provided by the incubator. 9. "Qualified entity" shall mean a business enterprise that is:(i) in the formative stage of development;(ii) located in New York state;(iii) either: (A) any corporation, except a corporation which: (1) over fifty percent of the number of shares of stock entitling the holders thereof to vote for the election of directors or trustees is owned or controlled, either directly or indirectly, by a taxpayer subject to tax under the following provisions of the tax law: article nine-A; section one hundred eighty-three or one hundred eighty-four or former section one hundred eighty-five of article nine; article thirty-two or article thirty-three; or(2) is substantially similar in operation and in ownership to a business entity (or entities) taxable or previously taxable under the following provisions of the tax law: article nine-A; section one hundred eighty-three, one hundred eighty-four, former section one hundred eighty-five or former section one hundred eighty-six of article nine; article thirty-two; article thirty-three; article twenty-three, or would have been subject to tax under such article twenty-three (as such article was in effect on January first, nineteen hundred eighty) or the income (or losses) of which is (or was) includable under article twenty-two; or(B) a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, or New York subchapter S corporation that is not substantially similar in operation and in ownership to a business entity (or entities) taxable, or previously taxable, under article nine-A of the tax law, section one hundred eighty-three, one hundred eighty-four, former section one hundred eighty-five or former section one hundred eighty-six of article nine of the tax law, article thirty-two or thirty-three of the tax law, article twenty-three of the tax law or which would have been subject to tax under such article twenty-three (as such article was in effect on January first, nineteen hundred eighty) or the income (or losses) of which is (or was) includable under article twenty-two of the tax law; and(iv) is certified by a New York state innovation hot spot as being approved to locate in, or be part of a virtual incubation program operated by, such New York innovation hot spot.10. The corporation may establish guidelines concerning this program to implement the purposes of this act.N.Y. Urban Development Corporation Act § 16-v
Amended by New York Laws 2018, ch. 246,Sec. 4, eff. 8/24/2018.Amended by New York Laws 2018, ch. 246,Sec. 3, eff. 8/24/2018.Amended by New York Laws 2018, ch. 246,Sec. 2, eff. 8/24/2018.Amended by New York Laws 2018, ch. 246,Sec. 1, eff. 8/24/2018.Amended by New York Laws 2017, ch. 59,Sec. XX-1, eff. 4/10/2017.Amended by New York Laws 2014, ch. 59,Sec. S-35, eff. 1/1/2018.Added by New York Laws 2013, ch. 59,Sec. C-1, eff. 3/28/2013.