New York City small business owners can now shop for loans, grants and one-on-one financial guidance through NYC Funds Finder, a free funding marketplace the city says is its first, according to the NYC Department of Small Business Services.
The department, known as SBS, said it built the platform in partnership with Next Street to connect entrepreneurs with what it described as responsible lenders, grants and personalized support in a single place. SBS said the marketplace lists 40 vetted loans and grants on one platform and has already facilitated millions of dollars in capital for local entrepreneurs.
More than 10,000 New York City small businesses have used the services tied to the marketplace, according to the department’s January message. SBS said those services include instant booking of one-on-one consultations with its advisors to explore funding options or get help with financial questions, and what it called expert guidance on becoming capital-ready.
The department also pointed business owners to its My Business Finance Coach program, which it said lets entrepreneurs schedule a private session with a certified accounting professional for financial planning, tax preparation and related help.
SBS, which lists its offices at 1 Liberty Plaza in Manhattan, promoted the marketplace in a January message to business owners as a way to find funding to start or grow a business. The agency directed interested owners to get started through the NYC Funds Finder platform.
