City launches "Operation GO!" aimed at small businesses.

Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel L. Doctoroff and Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) Chairman Charles A. Gargano, New York City Department of Business Services Commissioner Robert Walsh, and New York City Economic Development officials launched "Operation GO!" (Operation Grant Outreach) -- a new marketing campaign designed to encourage small businesses downtown to apply for the World Trade Center Business Assistance programs. The enhanced outreach effort was marked by the kick-off of a canvassing campaign by over 150 city and state volunteers targeting small businesses in nine areas located below 14th Street.

"The city and state want to make sure that every small business in Lower Manhattan knows about the available assistance programs and how to take advantage of them," said Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff. "Because of the Dec. 31 deadline for the Business Recovery Grant Program, we want to send a message to downtown businesses to apply for these cash grants as soon as possible. Businesses should also visit the city and state's walk-in centers where trained professionals are ready to help answer questions about the programs as well as provide guidance through the application process."

"Since distributing our first check this past February, the state and city have worked to provide more than $200 million to more than 7,300 business owners in Lower Manhattan" said Empire State Development chairman Charles A. Gargano. "Today's effort is another important step that will allow us to provide even more business owners of Lower Manhattan with the assistance they both need and deserve. I would like to thank the many dozens of volunteers who took part in 'Operation GO!' for doing their part to help New

Yorkers recover from the economic aftermath of Sept. 11."

"Working under the direction and leadership of Governor Pataki and Gargano, and in partnership with our counterparts at EDC, the staff at Empire State Development has worked to help Lower Manhattan rebuild and recover," said Kevin S. Corbett, chief operating officer of ESD. "This large effort will fan out into every neighborhood of Lower Manhattan and will feature many participants who are able to speak different languages used by the business owners of this wonderfully diverse area.

"The city and the state are committed to helping small businesses in Lower Manhattan recover and grow," said Andrew M. Alper, EDC president. "Downtown firms should know that that there are available programs -- ranging from grants to loans to tax credits -- all of which are designed to help them during the rebuilding process."

"Operation GO" augments the City and State's ongoing outreach campaign to small businesses affected by Sept. 11 by focusing on targeted canvassing, outreach through local community groups and business associations, direct mailings, and advertising. EDC, ESDC and DBS are working with major neighborhood and community-based organizations to supplement outreach efforts. The city and the state are currently reaching out to approximately 30 organizations, including the Tribeca Organization, the Lower East Side Business Improvement District, and the Asian-American Business Development Council.

To launch "Operation GO," more than 150 volunteers from ESDC, EDC, and DBS took to the streets today to canvass small businesses in targeted areas below 14th Street. The nine zones have been targeted as having potential for increased participation in the Business Recovery Grant Program. These areas include: the West Village, the East Village, the Washington Square area, the Lower East Side, Chinatown, SoHo, Little Italy, the Wall Street area (East of Broadway), and the Battery Park area. The volunteers passed out fliers with information on the Business Recovery Grant Program, application forms, and information on the City and State's walk-in business assistance centers. Over 5,000 businesses are expected to be canvassed through Operation GO.

The World Trade Center Business Assistance programs for small businesses include the WTC Business Recovery Grant (BRG) and the Small Firm Attraction and Retention Grant (SFARG). The BRG Program is designed to provide businesses with economic compensation due losses from September 11th. The program provides grants to businesses with one to 500 employees, based on amount of economic loss and location within four zones, all below 14th Street. Businesses can receive up to $300,000 in grants. To date, 7,354 businesses have been approved for grants totaling more than $207 million.

The SFARG Program focuses on businesses employing fewer than 200 employees. Grants are awarded to companies that sign or renew leases for a term of five or more years south of Canal Street, and are based on current number of employees, future job creation and geographic location. Firms can receive up to $3,500 or $5,000 per employee, depending on location. To date, 98 applications have been approved for grants totaling more than $6.5 million.

City and State officials also encouraged small businesses to take advantage of other assistance such as the Liberty Zone tax benefits which offer a $2,400 per employee tax credit for both 2002 and 2003 for firms with less than 200 employees, as well as the tax-free shopping days. The officials also urged businesses to visit the City and State run walk-in centers for technical guidance. The City's World Trade Center Business Rebuilding Center is located at 140 William Street, [phone]. The State's World Trade Center Business Recovery Center is located at 2 Rector Street, (800) ILOVENY. Both centers are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Wednesdays from 9am to 8pm, and offer assistance in multiple languages.