NYS Empire State Development Independent Impact Evaluator

BJH Advisors (BJH) has worked with Empire State Development (ESD) to conduct three program or policy evaluations each year over the next two to three years. In Year 1, the programs being evaluated include Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EACs), the Linked Deposit Program (LDP), and the Centers for Advanced Technology (CATs). For each program, BJH constructs a methodological approach, analyzes historic data, conducts surveys and case studies, assesses behavioral barriers, and performs fiscal and economic impact analyses using IMPLAN software. For the EAC program, the evaluation examines program effectiveness through a client survey, case studies, and program data analysis. The LDP evaluation will examine loan utilization, business participation, and return on investment while identifying participation barriers. The CAT evaluation will focus on economic impact, qualitative business experiences, and return on investment. Across all programs, BJH is using benchmarking, outreach, and structured interviews to provide ESD with insights into program effectiveness, economic contributions, and areas for improvement.