Start-Up Partners

Onondaga County Department of Economic Development. The mission of the Office of Economic Development is to improve the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of Onondaga County by creating job opportunities and expanding the tax base, and to provide unparalleled service to existing businesses and businesses interested in relocating to Onondaga County.

Onondaga County Department of Social Services is charged with the efficient and effective provision of those fiscal and service supports necessary to temporarily sustain dependent persons and assist them in achieving the greatest degree of independence and health possible while preserving the dignity of the individual.

The Syracuse University Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) is nationally and internationally renowned as a center for disability research, training and technical assistance on supporting the rights and community inclusion of people with disabilities. BBI is managing the project design and implementation. BBI understands the complex issues that people with diverse disabilities face as they seek to access jobs, housing and supportive services and become fully integrated into the mainstream life of their communities.

The Whitman School's Program in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises(EEE) is the nation's number one graduate entrepreneurship program as ranked by Entrepreneurship magazine and the Princeton Review, and is a leader in innovative entrepreneurship outreach and training. The EEE Program will lead the initiative in developing and implementing the entrepreneurial training aspects of the grant, helping to provide the infrastructure and resources needed to help more people with disabilities start and launch successful businesses.

The New York State Small Business Development Center (NYS SBDC)--the premier business assistance organization in New York State--provides expert management and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses across the state. The NYS SBDC is administered by State University of New York and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses.

ARISE is a consumer-controlled, non-profit Independent Living Center (ILC) that promotes the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the community. ARISE works with people of all ages who have all types of disabilities. Each year, ARISE serves more than 3,000 people from their offices located in three Central New York counties: Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego.