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Program Overview

Our mission is to serve as the axis for existing and new businesses to strengthen the defense industrial base by accelerating innovation, fostering ingenuity, and establishing resilient and diverse supply chains.

What We Do

The Empire APEX Accelerator provides confidential counseling and education at no cost to eligible businesses in the Capital, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, and Western regions of New York State interested in securing federal, state, and local government contracts. Under the management of the U.S. Department of War (D0W), our mission is to serve as the axis for new and existing businesses to strengthen the defense industrial base by accelerating innovation, fostering ingenuity, and establishing resilient and diverse supply chains. We accomplish this by providing the education and training that all businesses need to become capable of participating in DOD and other government contracts.

Our Services

Determine suitability for government contracting.

Understand the language and basics of contracting.

Secure necessary federal, state, and local government registrations.

Apply for small business programs, including SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDB, EDWOSB, MBE, and more.

Connect with government buyers and prime contractors.

Identify proposal and bid opportunities.

Develop a customized profile on our automated bid match service.

Review solicitations and proposal documents and make recommendations.

Assist with the Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Train and provide awareness of cybersecurity; risks of foreign ownership, control, and influence; and intellectual and property protection.