Title: Community Access Programs
Author: mfucilli
Published: August 7, 2024
Last modified: April 3, 2026

---

# **Reducing the Barriers to Making**

Supported by the Community Access Fund, these programs ensure TVCOG’s financial 
accessibility for all.

These programs allow our community access to our space, classes, and resources through
reduced membership dues and class fees for those with demonstrated financial barriers
to access. See details below to find what program suits your needs.

---

**About Program Funding Allocations: **

These programs are designed to serve financially and historically underserved communities.
With that in mind, all programs** prioritize** Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) individuals,
as defined by HUD. HUD defines LMI individuals based on taxable income and household
size, so there is not one income limit for eligibility. [Check HUD’s guidelines here ](https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2025/2025summary.odn?STATES=36.0&INPUTNAME=METRO10580M10580*3608399999%2BRensselaer+County&statelist=&stname=New+York&wherefrom=&statefp=36&year=2025&ne_flag=&selection_type=county&incpath=&data=2025&SubmitButton=View+County+Calculations)
to find out if you qualify as LMI. Some programs are only available to LMI individuals,
while some are programs have other eligibility requirements. Offered discounts are
based on taxable income, expressed financial need, and available grant funds. **
Please be sure to check the program details to ensure you are eligible before applying.**

If you are not eligible based on program eligibility guidelines but feel that the
cost of membership is a significant barrier to access for you, please reach out 
to TVCOG staff via email to discuss further.

| **Size of Household** | **1** | **2** | **3** | **4** | **5** | **6** | 
| **Max Income Limit** | 65,050 | 74,350 | 83,650 | 92,900 | 100,350 | 107,800 |

**Please contact TVCOG staff if you need assistance filling out any program applications.**

# Assistance for Businesses:

## Small Business Support Program

**OVERVIEW: **The Small Business Support Program offers up to a 75% reduction in
Professional Maker membership dues for those looking to use the space to support
their business. Members can receive discounts on space rentals, machine use, and
mentorship hours.

**REQUIREMENTS: **Program participants are required to credit TVCOG as a sponsor
and provide a limited amount of media for use in promotional materials.

**ELIGIBILITY: **This program is for candidates that fit within one of these categories:

 1. A pre-revenue startup businesses based at a Troy address
 2. A small businesses that have been established at a Troy address for 4 years or 
    less
 3. A business within a priority sector owned by an LMI individual
 4. Independent artists expanding into entrepreneurship that have demonstrated a need
    for more affordable access to TVCOG
 5. Businesses that have been applied and been accepted into TVCOG’s Incubated Maker
    Membership program.

**APPLICATION PROCESS: Currently accepting applications. [Online application form required](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXnlh4_gvT48UY7M-OoTAZl6tYkJIzj9Ouebe3UzFxTK9QsQ/viewform)**
[.](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpPQsgccspIeeRM3Hc8R8Mea_LJykcUg7gdRgp199huISvvQ/viewform?usp=pp_url)
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and reviewed by TVCOG Staff upon receipt;
applicants will be contacted regarding application status within 5-7 business days
of submission. Approved applicants start the program on the 1st of the next month.

[Apply for the SBS Program](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXnlh4_gvT48UY7M-OoTAZl6tYkJIzj9Ouebe3UzFxTK9QsQ/viewform)

# Assistance for Individuals:

## Pay-What-You Can Program

**OVERVIEW: **This program offers up to a reduction in Super Maker membership dues(
offered in 25% increments) for a period of up to 12 months for those with demonstrated
financial need. Discount amounts are offered based on income tier.

**REQUIREMENTS: **Volunteer hours are required. Shifts are 4 hours long, and volunteers
are required to complete the equivalent of 1-2 shifts a month. Volunteer positions
vary, but options include operating the front desk/check-in station, basic organizational
tasks, etc. Program members will work with TVCOG staff to determine which volunteer
position best suits them.

**ELIGIBILITY & DISCOUNT AMOUNTS: **Qualifying applicants must be Capital Region
residents who meet **[HUD’s definition of being LMI](https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2025/2025summary.odn?STATES=36.0&INPUTNAME=METRO10580M10580*3608399999%2BRensselaer+County&statelist=&stname=New+York&wherefrom=&statefp=36&year=2025&ne_flag=&selection_type=county&incpath=&data=2025&SubmitButton=View+County+Calculations)**,
based on their projected taxable income for the current calendar year. For college
students who are still claimed as dependents on their parents’ taxes, eligibility
is determined based on financial aid status at your school.

Offered discount amounts are based on your income tier (as determined by HUD’s guidelines).
To figure out your discount amount, use the chart below to determine your HUD income
tier **using your projected taxable income for the current year and household size.**

| HUD Income Tier Limits | Persons in Family | **TVCOG Discount Amount** | 
| **1** | **2** | **3** | **4** | **5** | **6+** | 
| **Low ****Income** Limits | $65,050 | $74,350 | $83,650 | $92,900 | $100,350 | $107,800 | **25%** | 
| **Very Low ****Income Limits** | $40,650 | $46,450 | $52,250 | $58,050 | $62,700 | $67,350 | **50%** | 
| **Extremely Low** Income Limits ($)* | $24,400 | $27,900 | $31,400 | $34,850 | $37,650 | $43,150 | **75%** |

**APPLICATION PROCESS: Currently accepting applications. [Online application form required](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXnlh4_gvT48UY7M-OoTAZl6tYkJIzj9Ouebe3UzFxTK9QsQ/viewform)**
[.](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpPQsgccspIeeRM3Hc8R8Mea_LJykcUg7gdRgp199huISvvQ/viewform?usp=pp_url)
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and reviewed by TVCOG Staff upon receipt;
applicants will be contacted regarding application status within 5-7 business days
of submission. Approved applicants start the program on the 1st of the next month.

[Apply for the PWYC Program](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpPQsgccspIeeRM3Hc8R8Mea_LJykcUg7gdRgp199huISvvQ/viewform?usp=pp_url)

# Assistance for Workshops & Classes:

## Class Discount Program

**The Class Discount program provides partial and full discounts to individuals 
with demonstrated financial need.**

**OVERVIEW: **This program offers discounts to adults with demonstrated financial
need for TVCOG classes.

**ELIGIBILITY:** Qualifying applicants are Capital Region residents who meet HUD’s
definition of being LMI.

**APPLICATION PROCESS:** Please fill out a request form [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduo5gUUW-XKlaxawACZbXfnjsgmdyRmLnhwD44rATnYikvZw/viewform).
Requests should be submitted at least 5 days prior to the class date.

_Note: If you are currently a TVCOG member participating in one of our other Community
Access Programs, you are automatically eligible for class discounts. Please email
info@tvcog.net at least 1 week in advance with the class information and requested
discount amount in order to receive your online registration discount code. _

**This program is currently supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.**

## STEAM Education Assistance Fund

**Providing significant discounts on workshops, classes, after-school clubs and 
field trips for Troy schools and other educational organizations in Troy who serve
primarily low-income students. **

**OVERVIEW: **This program offers discounts on educational programs for K-12 students.
Offered rates are based on the number of low-income students recorded at that school
by the [NYS Education Department](https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000033960).

For example, if NYSED indicates 85% of a school’s population is low-income, TVCOG
offers an 85% discount on fees for that school. Further assistance may be available;
school administrators are encouraged to contact us with a statement of need if this
is the case. 501(c)(3) organizations requesting discounts will be required to provide
this data if it is not publicly available in order to determine discount eligibility.

**ELIGIBILITY:** At this time, this fund is only available to Troy-based schools
and 501(c)(3) organizations in Troy that serve primarily low-income youth. Programs
are available for all students in grades K-12.

**APPLICATION PROCESS:** Please read our [School Trip Guide](https://www.tvcog.net/images/TVCOG_Field_Trip_Guide_2022.pdf)
to get an idea of what kind of experiences we can offer your students, and contact
our Programs Manager directly at [Liz@tvcog.net](https://www.tvcog.net/programs/caf/admin@tvcog.net?output_format=md)
to discuss further. All field trip/workshop requests must be submitted at least 
30 days in advance, and all after-school club requests must be submitted at least
60 days in advance. 

**More Information & General Policies:**

**CODE OF CONDUCT: **All program participants are expected to abide by our Member
Code of Conduct.

**RIGHT OF REFUSAL:** TVCOG reserves the right to dismiss any application to any
program if the applicant is deemed ineligible. TVCOG also reserves the right to 
offer applicants entry into a different program than the one denoted as preferred
on their application. 

**FINANCIAL INFORMATION: **TVCOG reserves the right to request additional proof 
of income upon application receipt. 

**PROGRAM OFFERS: **Final decisions on program offers (including program type, program
length and membership level) are determined by our staff based on available program
funds and the applicant’s demonstrated need. While individual preferences are taken
into consideration, the final program offer may not reflect the preferences denoted
in the application process. **Program offers are included in notification of program
acceptance, and are non-negotiable.** We encourage applicants to provide a detailed
statement of need on their application in order to increase the chances of being
accepted into their preferred program. 

**The Community Access Fund is made possible by grant funders, corporate sponsors,
and individual donors. Donors may choose to donate to the Fund itself, in which 
case funds will be allocated where needed, or you may choose to dedicate your donation
to a specific program.**

**Current sponsors include the Troy Now Initiative, the New York State Council on
the Arts, Agora Media and the Albany Society of Engineers Foundation. **