Application Instructions

This page will prepare you for the process of applying for a NYMS Grant. We hope you’ll take the time to review the entire New York Main Street website. There is information here that will benefit the potential applicant prior to beginning the application process.
For those who may not have visited the entire site, we suggest you at least visit our Program Guidelines page prior to beginning the process of applying. There you will find the program’s purpose, you will be able to determine if you are an eligible applicant, learn what areas are eligible for grant money and what types of activities the grant can support.

New York Main Street is part of the Unified Funding Process. What does this mean?

The Unified Funding Process is an approach that permits applicants to DHCR/HTFC programs to simultaneously apply for several State Housing and Community Development Programs using common application materials. The application materials for NYMS have accordingly been merged with materials covering other UF programs. These materials can be accessed through the website www.nysdhcr.gov.

Applications for New York Main Street funding may be submitted on-line through the Community Development Online Application System (CDOL). Please note that should you decide to apply for a NYMS grant, you’ll be leaving this website to do so.

If you would like additional information to improve your application, make yourself familiar with the NYMS website and program guidelines. To facilitate the application process follow the Main Street roadmap that follows. Print out this page. This will save time as you will not have to go back and forth between the DHCR and New York Main Street websites.

Step One
Click on www.nysdhcr.gov. This will take you to DHCR’s home page. On the right side you will see Unified Funding Materials. Click on this phrase to go to the next step.

Step Two
You are now on the 2008 Unified Funding Materials page. This page has links to information on a variety of the programs available to you through Unified Funding as well as helpful sources of information. To continue with the NYMS application process scroll down to Notice of Funding Availability-State and Federal Funds. All applicants to any program in Unified Funding should read this prior to applying. The NOFA contains information such as the amount of funding available for each program and the application deadlines. When done, click your Back button to return to the 2008 Unified Funding Materials page.

Step Three
You should now click on Request For Proposals. You will be taken to the ‘Request for Proposals’ page, showing you a list of the numerous programs involved. The ‘RFP’ is perhaps the single most important UF document. Click on Request for Proposals [PDF Only] found beneath the list. This will take you to the document that will provide the necessary details about submitting applications. This is vital information for you to be aware of as you build your application. It is also important as you go through this document to pay special attention to those sections where NYMS is cited (specifically where information on application materials and deadlines are mentioned). The ‘RFP’ will also explain all the individual programs (please note the Program matrix beginning on page 45 of the .pdf) and the evaluation and selection process for each. When finished, click your Back button until you return to the 2008 Unified Funding Materials page.

Step Four
You can visit any of the other links that interest you or those that you believe may be of help (like the NYMS FAQ) but when you’re ready to begin the application process click on the New York Main Street (NYMS) Program Application Instructions [PDF only] link. Print these out if you feel you’d benefit from having a ‘hard copy’. We suggest that you read fully and refer often to the Application Instructions. You should pay special attention to Section A of the New York Main Street Program General Instructions, Section 1, where it states in part “The application is not complete until all required attachments are certified and submitted. Please carefully review the following steps...” Return to the 2008 Unified Funding Materials page by clicking your Back button.

Step Five
Now that you’ve read the instructions you can proceed to the Community Development Online (CDOL) Application System by clicking on this link. This takes you to the introductory page of CDOL (the system you’ll be using to fill out and submit an application for a grant). If you are already a registered user you may click on Login to CDOL and begin your application process immediately. If you are not registered, follow the directions for How to Become a Registered User of the CDOL. Applicants who used the CDOL (formerly known as CDWAS) to apply for LPA funding in the past will still be registered, and may use the CDOL with the user ID and password previously assigned to them. If you have forgotten your password, you may go to the CDOL, enter your USER ID then click on ‘Forgot Your Password?’ ; enter your USER ID and e-mail address and you will be e-mailed a password. If you have changed your e-mail address since you first registered as a CDOL (or CDWAS) user, and you cannot remember your password, or if you have forgotten your USER ID, please either call the MSR Unit at (518) 486-5000, or e-mail at: msr@nysdhcr.gov for assistance.

Step Six
Upon receipt, or recollection, of your USER ID and password return to the Introductory page of the CDOL. Click Login to CDOL, type in USER ID and password, click submit, click on NYMS Application and fill out according to the application directions.