New York Forward Loan Fund
The New York Forward Loan Fund is an economic recovery program that administers affordable, non-forgivable working capital loans of up to $100,000, to businesses located in New York State that have suffered a direct economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. The loans are designed to help small businesses, nonprofits and small residential landlords that have difficulty accessing capital and that were not able to receive loans greater than $50,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Eligible businesses must be located in New York State, have been in business for at least one year, and have suffered a direct economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. Other additional requirements by entity category are as follows:
SMALL BUSINESSES
NONPROFITS
SMALL RESIDENTIAL LANDLORDS
Examples of businesses currently ineligible for a loan are corporate-owned franchises, liquor stores, night clubs, and marijuana dispensaries. Owners of more than one small business and/or small residential landlords can apply for loans for each business, provided that each is a separate legal entity, has a separate tax ID number, and employs 20 or fewer full-time or full-time equivalent employees.
Proceeds are required to be used for working capital, inventory, property taxes, rent, utilities, marketing, re-fitting for social distancing, or similar expenses.
HOW MUCH CAN BE BORROWED
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
The lesser of (a) $100,000 or (b) up to 100% of average monthly revenues in any 3-month period from 2019 or first quarter of 2020.
FOR SMALL RESIDENTIAL LANDLORDS
The lesser of (a) $100,000 or (b) projected reduction in six months of net operating income based on actual reductions for the month of April or May 2020.
TERMS OF LOANS
Up to $100,000 loans are available and payable over a 5-year period, with monthly, interest-only payments for the first 12 months and interest and principal payments for months 13 to 60. The interest rate for small businesses and residential landlords is fixed at 3%, and for nonprofits at 2%. There are no application fees, no collateral required, and no prepayment penalty if the loan is paid off before maturity. The funds must be used for working capital and not used to repay other loans. Late fees are imposed on missed payments.
APPLICATION PROCESS
An online application process, several resources for assistance, and FAQs are available at the New York Forward Loan Fund website.
A community development financial institution will contact the loan applicant to collect all required documentation and conduct credit checks. The Fund suggests assembling the required information in advance, to accelerate the processing of the loan. Approved loans will be distributed through participating lenders. If a loan is denied, the Fund suggests not to apply to a different lender as a denial by one lender is considered decline by all lenders.
The information presented here should not be construed as legal, tax, accounting, or valuation advice. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice and after a thorough examination of the particular situation.