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    Business Plan Competition 2026

    The MVEAC Business Plan Competition is Friday, April 24, 2026, in-person at SUNY Cobleskill with $32,000 in prize money available. The exact schedule will be sent out via e-mail to competing businesses prior to the event.

    Registration closes on Monday, April 5th at 11:00 AM. No late registrations will be accepted.

    If you have any questions, please refer to the Business Plan Competition Rulebook for more information: 2026_NYBPC_Rulebook_V1

    If you have further questions or concerns, please contact malhenka@cobleskill.edu or institute@cobleskill.edu. Thank you.
    Stage of Business
    Stage of Business
    Form of Business
    Form of Business
    Business Types or/ Industries
    Business Types or/ Industries
    Usable Business Plan
    Usable Business Plan
    Mailing Address
    Mailing Address
    Gender
    Gender
    Business Facility
    Business Facility
    Income Generated is:
    Income Generated is:
    MWBE Applied Date
    MWBE Applied Date
    MWBE Certified Date
    MWBE Certified Date
    MWBE Denied Date
    MWBE Denied Date
    Date Business Started
    Date Business Started
    Designation Group/ Status
    Designation Group/ Status
    EAC Employment Status
    EAC Employment Status
    Business Plan Competition Information
    Have you completed a Entrepreneur Assistance Center (EAC) Business Plan Training Course in the last 12 months?
    Have you completed a Entrepreneur Assistance Center (EAC) Business Plan Training Course in the last 12 months?
    Do you have any dietary restrictions or desires?
    Do you have any dietary restrictions or desires?
    Please check each box to acknowledge you accept the conditions of the Business Plan Competition
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand this competition will take place on April 24, 2026 at SUNY Cobleskill in Cobleskill, NY 12043. I understand this competition is an in-person event only. Registration for the event will begin at 8:00 am, with the competition starting at 8:45 am.
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand this competition will take place on April 24, 2026 at SUNY Cobleskill in Cobleskill, NY 12043. I understand this competition is an in-person event only. Registration for the event will begin at 8:00 am, with the competition starting at 8:45 am.
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand this competition will award 3 grant prizes (1st - 15,000; 2nd - $8,500; 3rd - $8,500) which is provided by funding from Empire State Development, Small Business and Entrepreneurs Grant Program Pilot. Award winners from the Mohawk Valley EAC business plan competition, must meet with the Institute for Rural Vitality (IRV) at least quarterly and provide the IRV with the following documentation on a quarterly basis: Receipts for the use of all funds awarded; Sales or profit numbers; Number of jobs created or retained, or employees hired; New products or services launched; and sales/distribution footprint changes.
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand this competition will award 3 grant prizes (1st - 15,000; 2nd - $8,500; 3rd - $8,500) which is provided by funding from Empire State Development, Small Business and Entrepreneurs Grant Program Pilot. Award winners from the Mohawk Valley EAC business plan competition, must meet with the Institute for Rural Vitality (IRV) at least quarterly and provide the IRV with the following documentation on a quarterly basis: Receipts for the use of all funds awarded; Sales or profit numbers; Number of jobs created or retained, or employees hired; New products or services launched; and sales/distribution footprint changes.
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand the following businesses are ineligible:
    • All Non-Profits 
    • Government-owned entities or business owned by an elected official 
    • Businesses primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities 
    • Any business not meeting the definition of a micro-business or small business 
      • Micro-business: A Small Business, as defined hereafter, which employs ten or less persons. 
      • Small Business: A business which is resident in New York State, independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employs 100 or fewer persons, and has been operational for less than five years with gross receipts that do not exceed $1,000,000 per annum. 
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand the following businesses are ineligible:
    • All Non-Profits 
    • Government-owned entities or business owned by an elected official 
    • Businesses primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities 
    • Any business not meeting the definition of a micro-business or small business 
      • Micro-business: A Small Business, as defined hereafter, which employs ten or less persons. 
      • Small Business: A business which is resident in New York State, independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employs 100 or fewer persons, and has been operational for less than five years with gross receipts that do not exceed $1,000,000 per annum. 
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand that award recipients may use this grant award for costs directly associated for the operation of a start-up or existing micro-business or small business, including, but not limited to the following: 
    • Legal or Accounting Services;  
    • Website Development;  
    • Marketing and/or Advertisement Services; 
    • Professional and/or Subscription Licenses; 
    • Payroll costs; 
    • Commercial Rent or mortgage payments for New York State-based property; 
    • Insurance costs; 
    • Utility costs;  
    • Equipment or machinery costs. 
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand that award recipients may use this grant award for costs directly associated for the operation of a start-up or existing micro-business or small business, including, but not limited to the following: 
    • Legal or Accounting Services;  
    • Website Development;  
    • Marketing and/or Advertisement Services; 
    • Professional and/or Subscription Licenses; 
    • Payroll costs; 
    • Commercial Rent or mortgage payments for New York State-based property; 
    • Insurance costs; 
    • Utility costs;  
    • Equipment or machinery costs. 
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand that award recipients may NOT use the awarded funds to re-pay or pay down any portion of a loan or taxes. 
    As a registrant for the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition, I understand that award recipients may NOT use the awarded funds to re-pay or pay down any portion of a loan or taxes. 
    Please confirm your eligibility to compete in the Mohawk Valley EAC Business Plan Competition:
    The business must be organized and licensed or registered in the State of New York.
    The business must be organized and licensed or registered in the State of New York.
    The business owner(s), owning more than 20% of the business, must be a resident in the State of New York.
    The business owner(s), owning more than 20% of the business, must be a resident in the State of New York.
    The business must be in substantial compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, codes and requirements.
    The business must be in substantial compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, codes and requirements.
    The business can not owe any federal, state or local taxes, or have an approved repayment, deferral plan, or agreement with appropriate federal, state, and local taxing authorities. 
    The business can not owe any federal, state or local taxes, or have an approved repayment, deferral plan, or agreement with appropriate federal, state, and local taxing authorities. 
    The business has not received or been awarded grants prizes of $1,000 or more from other New York State contest or grant programs.
    The business has not received or been awarded grants prizes of $1,000 or more from other New York State contest or grant programs.
    The businesses meets the definition of a micro-business or small business:

    o   Micro-business: A Small Business, as defined hereafter, which employs ten or less persons. 

    o   Small Business: A business which is resident in New York State, independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employs 100 or fewer persons, and has been operational for less than five years with gross receipts that do not exceed $1,000,000 per annum. 

    The businesses meets the definition of a micro-business or small business:

    o   Micro-business: A Small Business, as defined hereafter, which employs ten or less persons. 

    o   Small Business: A business which is resident in New York State, independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employs 100 or fewer persons, and has been operational for less than five years with gross receipts that do not exceed $1,000,000 per annum. 

    The entrepreneur or small business owner is eligible for only one award per Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Employer identification Number (EIN) under the Program;  
    The entrepreneur or small business owner is eligible for only one award per Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Employer identification Number (EIN) under the Program;  
    If awarded, the business agrees to maintain the operations of the Small Business for which the grant was approved physically located in the State of New York for at least two years after receipt of the grant award, to the extent the business remains operational, and reports on the usages of grant award and sales or employment impacts. If within two years of receiving the grant award, such business is found to have moved its operations outside the State of New York, the Entrepreneur Assistance Center (EAC) may be required to seek to recapture the funds or a portion thereof. 
    If awarded, the business agrees to maintain the operations of the Small Business for which the grant was approved physically located in the State of New York for at least two years after receipt of the grant award, to the extent the business remains operational, and reports on the usages of grant award and sales or employment impacts. If within two years of receiving the grant award, such business is found to have moved its operations outside the State of New York, the Entrepreneur Assistance Center (EAC) may be required to seek to recapture the funds or a portion thereof. 
    Required Documents
    Current Business License; Articles of Organization; Certificate of Assumed Name (DBA); Certificate of Incorporation; Proof of assignment of EIN by Internal Revenue; Federal tax return; NYS municipality issued document showing authorization to operate in NYS; Other documentation deemed necessary by ESD.

    Current lease; Current utility bill; Current business mortgage statement; Business credit card statement; Professional insurance bill; Payment processing statement; NYS ST-809 or ST-100 sales tax collection documentation; Most recently filed NYS 45 Document; Other documentation deemed appropriate by ESD