* Provides English as a Second Language classes, citizenship services, small business development services for refugees and immigrants.
* Offers free Immigration legal services by appointment only.

Resource Center located on the East Side of Buffalo. Operates several unique programs that improve the lives of those who live and own businesses in the MLK District. The Better Schools Better Neighborhoods (BSBN) Collaborative is comprised of businesses, institutions, faith-based organizations, block clubs, schools, property owners, and residents that live or work in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park area. Its primary goal is to create a family-friendly neighborhood where everyone loves to live, work, and raise their families for generations. The MRC Block Club Development program provides training sessions to community members who want to create their own local block clubs and neighborhood watch programs, along with computer literacy classes. The Small Business Development Program helps build long-term success by providing small local businesses with case management, advocacy, guidance, and assistance with funding applications. MRC offers the following free services open for public use: - Wi-Fi - Copy and fax services - Computer lab - Community telephone to make and receive calls - Meeting space with projector and screen for individuals or groups to plan workshops, training, and meetings - Job board (updated daily) - Bulletin board and space to leave leaflets and flyers about community business and programs Staff provide the following assistance: - Food pantry referrals - Assistance for Buffalo Public School parents with advocating for their children in schools and navigating the programs and resources available in the district - Block Club Assistance: Community members can register new block clubs and have flyers made for their club events - Assistance for local businesses with getting facade renovations done on their properties through the Better Buffalo Fund

Focuses on creating asset development opportunities for both residents and entrepreneurs. Assists individuals in growing and investing in their communities by providing lending capital, training, consulting, technical assistance, seminars, workshops, and low-cost business rental space to new and existing businesses that would otherwise lack access to these services. Assists area residents in developing asset based thinking by providing financial literacy training, basic budgeting, and home appliance loans to combat predatory lenders. Loan programs and Cottage Industry Assistance Program target low to moderate income existing and prospective individuals. Chautauqua Microenterprise Loan Fund and the Women and Minority Microenterprise Loan Fund Programs help small businesses by providing small business start up and expansion loans. The small business incubator offers small businesses an opportunity to grow and stabilize with subsidies around rent, business services, and technical assistance. Serves as a Warming Center during times of excessive cold and as a Cooling Center during times of excessive heat. Always call ahead to make sure a Warming/Cooling Center is open before going there.

Provides programs designed to bolster employee and organizational performance. Programs include Grant Information, Human Resources, Leadership, Management and Supervisory Skills, Microsoft Office Software Training, Safety/OSHA, and Staff Development. Offers noncredit classes, development programs, and community training, including Career and Personal Enrichment Courses, Computer Training, Driving Programs, Leisure Learning, and Rural Police Training Academy. Also offers hundreds of affordable online courses and certificate programs that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. These include Education To Go, NY State Real Estate Online, American Management Association (AMA), and Penn Foster. As part of the Small Business Administration's nation-wide network, the SBDC at the Best Center provides entrepreneurs and current small business owners with a central point of contact for confidential advice, planning, and assistance. Provides Conference and Events Facilities, including accommodations, catering, services, and meeting Rooms.

Offers free confidential business advice and mentoring from experienced retired business executives providing general business advice on every aspect of business planning, start-up, management and growth in low cost business workshops; also provides support tools and resources.

Offers free, expert counseling to small businesses in Erie and Wyoming Counties. Works to help clients: - Understand the importance of a business plan - Discover sources of funding - Prepare for e-commerce - Identify avenues for exporting goods and services - Develop marketing plans - Assess an invention’s viability - Comply with licensing and regulations

Provides direct counseling and coaching, technical training and development, business education programs, and micro-lending (see separate listing for Micro Loan Program).

Provides access to capital, technical assistance, business training, and referral services for minority- and women-owned businesses. Program assists each applicant to evaluate the effectiveness of their business operations, view their business from an external perspective, and access technical assistance tailored to the specific needs of the business operating model.

Focuses on creating asset development opportunities for both residents and entrepreneurs. Assists individuals in growing and investing in their communities by providing lending capital, training, consulting, technical assistance, seminars, workshops, and low-cost business rental space to new and existing businesses that would otherwise lack access to these services. Assists area residents in developing asset based thinking by providing financial literacy training, basic budgeting, and home appliance loans to combat predatory lenders. Loan programs and Cottage Industry Assistance Program target low to moderate income existing and prospective individuals. Chautauqua Microenterprise Loan Fund and the Women and Minority Microenterprise Loan Fund Programs help small businesses by providing small business start up and expansion loans. The small business incubator offers small businesses an opportunity to grow and stabilize with subsidies around rent, business services, and technical assistance. Program site serves as a Warming Center during times of excessive cold and as a Cooling Center during times of excessive heat. Always call ahead to make sure a Warming/Cooling Center is open before going there.

Provides incentives for the development of new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses in New York State. Assists businesses in identifying creative solutions to problems, enhanced opportunities for growth and realization of short and long term goals.

Public benefit corporation of the State of New York authorized to help nonprofit and qualified business to relocate, expand and build in the City of Glen Cove. The Agency is authorized to assist in the acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, maintaining, equipping and furnishing industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, commmercial, research, educational or cultural facilities, in the City of Glen Cove.

Offers free individual counseling, mentoring, seminars and workshops to meet the needs of local small businesses, those planning to start a new business, or those businesses looking to expand. SCORE staffs several different locations on Long Island with volunteer counselors and is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Call for details and to request a brochure.

Offers residents of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens a unique Certified Financial Planner Program with a curriculum focused on developing 21st century financial planning skills. This intensive program prepares accountants, attorneys, bankers, insurance agents, brokers, security representatives and other professionals to better help their clients achieve their financial goals. In association with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., Hofstra University Continuing Education also offers this program to prepare individuals with the educational requirements to qualify for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam. To qualify for the exam, students must successfully complete seven courses. Sample Course offerings include: Fundamentals of Financial Planning; Risk and Insurance Planning; Investment Planning; Income Tax Planning; Employee Benefits and Retirement Planning; Estate Planning and Certified Financial Planning Capstone Case Applications. Call for more detailed information.

Assists and promotes the development, growth and retention of a broad mix of industry clusters that facilitate job opportunities and private capital investment. Through implementation of various technical and financing programs the department acts as a one-stop resource for all type of business sectors and their respective needs. We assist private enterprise, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities in the production of workforce housing that offers opportunities for our highly educated and skilled workforce to remain here in Suffolk County. Through various grants the department encouraging tourism and downtown revitalization both which support the quality of life our residents have come to enjoy and expect. The division is comprised of the following Units: Business Recovery Unit; Communications; Agriculture and Fishing; Suffolk County Foreign-Trade Zone #52 and Energy and Climate Action. Call for detailed services offered.

Provides the Hispanic business community with support programs, workshops, and networking opportunities in order to advance the commercial, financial, industrial and civic interests of the Hispanic community on Long Island.

Offers business plan development, business counseling, workshops, networking opportunities, referrals, and MWBE certification assistance. Also addresses business challenges of all entrepreneurs, including those of special groups, such as low-income women, displaced homemakers, native Spanish speakers, childcare providers, women over the age of 55.

Provides referrals for working parents searching for licensed day care providers. Also provides training workshops for day care providers on various topics, such as early childhood development, health and safety, nutrition, educational activities, and program management. Assists those interested in starting a day care through funding and orientation seminars.

Offers support for small businesses. Also allows access to research in Stony Brook University. Provides an opportunity to start a new business and participate in a dynamic process of business enterprise development. Must undergo approval process before acceptance into the program.

Address the needs of African-American Advisory Board, Hispanic Advisory Board, Asian-American Advisory Board, Muslim-American Advisory Board, Jewish Advisory Board, and other minority residents of Suffolk County. The Office of Minority Affairs is also a home to the County's Minority Business Development Council and the Women's Business Enterprise Coalitions. Both Coalitions function to assist qualified women and minority-owned businesses in effectively competing for bids, contracts and other procurement opportunities in County government and other entities. Businesses seeking certification as a minority or women-owned business in Suffolk County, may also obtain applications and information on qualifications through the Office of Minority Affairs. The Office of Minority Affairs continuously offers technical assistance to community-based organizations providing outreach and services to the various ethnic communities in Suffolk. Referral and information services are also available to individuals seeking assistance in accessing programs or with questions regarding matters of discrimination. Call for more information.

Provides a variety of management and technical assistance services to small businesses and potential entrepreneurs. Includes assisting small businesses with financial, marketing, production, organization, engineering, technical problems and feasibility studies. Makes effort to reach minority members of socially and economically disadvantaged groups, veterans, women, and the disabled. Works cooperatively with the private sector, the educational community and Federal, State and local governments. See website for SBDC phone guide.

Provides services to donors and administers philanthropic funds. Makes grants to non-profit organizations and functions as a neutral convener/catalyst in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Its mission is to build a permanent source of private funding for Long Island charities. Produces Newsletter and Agency brochure. Is an operating division of The New York Community Trust.

Dedicated to helping corporations, trade and professional associations, universities, and governments meet the challenge of today's complex and rapidly evolving global marketplace. Stimulates cooperative relationships among business, government, and academic institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Offers a speakers bureau that presents on global issues.

Serves as a vehicle for private funding of business and industry by providing long term secured financing for plant, equipment and working capital to create employment and perpetuate business activity in the entire state including fixed rate loans.