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Geneva reports MAP grant payouts and sets public hearings for new microenterprise CDBG requests
Summary
City staff reported completion of a MAP (microenterprise assistance) round that awarded six businesses about $153,000 and said final reimbursement of $180,000 is pending; council set public hearings to consider a new BEST/MAP application and a CDBG loan to Liquid Orchard Incorporated.
City staff briefed the council on the closeout of the microenterprise assistance program (MAP) round and announced the city funded six businesses with approximately $153,000 in awards. Director West said the final reimbursement request — about $180,000 that includes $18,000 for program delivery and $9,000 for administration — has been submitted and was reported as approved, with payment expected within a week.
“We funded six businesses, gave out $153,000 to those businesses, and they have all completed providing all of their expenses,” Director West said.
The nut graf: staff reported the MAP round is wrapping up and the city will pursue a new round of microenterprise aid under the state’s renamed BEST program, and council set public hearings to allow public comment and formal review of two related CDBG items, including a proposed community development loan application for Liquid Orchard Incorporated.
Director West told council the city acts as the applicant and administrator for CDBG economic development grants and that the proposed grant would help Liquid Orchard secure equipment and production space. “This grant comes with administration funds that will cover that cost,” West said, and the council agreed to set a public hearing on the Liquid Orchard application.
On the microenterprise follow‑up, staff recommended applying for the next round of BEST microenterprise funds (the state’s rebranded MAP program) to fund another set of small businesses, and the council set a public hearing for the forthcoming BEST application. Director West described BEST as the state program that will replace MAP and noted its application is rolling and that city staff had already identified candidates for the next round.
Councilors asked about past outcomes for incubated food‑sector businesses and the risk of firms moving after receiving public assistance; staff said the city aims to leverage partnerships with the Cornell AgriTech park and other regional assets to create stable, long‑term businesses.
Procedural outcome: council voted to schedule public hearings for the Liquid Orchard CDBG application and for the BEST microenterprise grant application so the grant applications can proceed through public comment and required administrative review.
