Sullivan County has initiated a Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) will provide grants of between $5,000 and $35,000 for small businesses with five or fewer employees. The program is a collaboration between the Sullivan County Division of Planning, the Center for Workforce Development, Sullivan Renaissance, the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce and Liberty Community Development Corporation.

Recipients are required to contribute 10% of the cost of the project for which they receive a grant, and owners must participate in an entrepreneurial training program.

According to Sullivan County Manager David Fanslau, specific targets of the new program will include businesses located in downtown areas of local villages and hamlets, and agri-business enterprises.

Funding for the program comes from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Public information sessions about MAP will be held on January 12 at 6 p.m. at the government center in Monticello and on Wednesday, January 18 at the Town of Callicoon Town Hall in Jeffersonville, NY.