New York Office of General Services (OGS) Commissioner RoAnn Destito recently announced that one Mohawk Valley business has been certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned business (SDVOB).

The New York OGS Division of Service-Disabled Veterans’ Business Development (DSDVBD) issued the certification to Leatherstocking Professional Services LLC, based in Frankfort in Herkimer County. The company provides estimating and project management services. 

Leatherstocking Professional Services was one of six newly certified business announced by OGS on July 12. The other five businesses are all located downstate. The DSDVBD was created by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014 through enactment of the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act. As of July 12, a total of 678 businesses have been certified.

The law promotes and encourages participation of SDVOBs in New York State public procurements of public works, commodities, services and technology to “foster and advance economic development” in the state.

For a business to receive certification, one or more service-disabled veterans — with a service-connected disability rating of 10 percent or more from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or from the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs for National Guard veterans) — must own at least 51 percent of the business. Other criteria include: the business must be independently owned and operated and have a significant business presence in New York, it must have conducted business for at least one year prior to the application date, and it must qualify as a small business under the New York State program. Several more requirements also need to be met.