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Naturally Lewis Announces $180,000 in Launch Lewis
County Grants Awarded to Microenterprise Businesses
Published: July 07, 2022 at
07:30 p.m.
By: Press Release from Naturally Lewis
LEWIS COUNTY, NY
– Launch Lewis County is a business competition grant program
administered by the Lewis County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) on
behalf of Lewis County that helps businesses start or expand.
Launch Lewis County is awarding $180,000 in grant awards to nine (9)
Lewis County Microenterprise Businesses; two (2) $30,000 awards, five
(5) $20,000 awards, two (2) $10,000 awards.
The Launch Lewis
County proudly announces funding for the following businesses:
- $30,000 | Sterling Valley Maple, LLC (Croghan,
NY)
- $30,000 | The Tack Shack (Glenfield,
NY)
- $20,000 | Munch. (Lowville,
NY)
- $20,000 | Simmons Tree Farm (Copenhagen,
NY)
- $20,000 | Turin Highland Lodge (Turin,
NY)
- $20,000 | Vanilla Bean Bake Shop (Lowville,
NY)
- $20,000 | World’s Famous Osceola
Hotel (Osceola, NY)
- $10,000 | Cogumelo
Mushrooms (Natural Bridge, NY)
- $10,000 | Grassroot Meats (Lowville,
NY)
“Small businesses
and entrepreneurs often have a difficult time accessing capital in small
amounts to purchase the equipment they need, said Brittany Davis, Executive
Director of the Lewis County IDA. “Our partnership with Lewis County to
administer the Launch Lewis County program has allowed small businesses and
entrepreneurs to start and expand products and services, which in turn
creates and retains jobs, creates unique experiences for residents and
tourists, and ultimately enhances the tax base of Lewis County.”
In
order to qualify for the Launch Lewis County Microenterprise Grant Program,
businesses:
- Must be a startup businesses OR existing
businesses with plans to expand or diversify product or service
- Must be a for-profit microenterprise (5 or
fewer employees)
- Must enhance experiences for tourists and
locals, alike
- Grant Funds can only be used for equipment,
machinery, furniture, fixtures and inventory
- Applicants/owners must be considered low to
moderate income based on the 2021 NYS Income Guidelines OR create a
job to be made available to low to moderate income individuals to
qualify for grant
- Grant funds can only cover up to 90% of total
project cost
Launch Lewis
County received interest from 21 businesses at the start of the program in
March 2022. All 21 businesses completed a mandatory Entrepreneurial
Training Course hosted by the Small Business Development Center. Twelve
(12) businesses submitted final applications for Launch Lewis County
funding. After review by the Launch Lewis County Grant Committee and final
approval by the Lewis County IDA Board, nine (9) applications were
determined to have met all local and NYS Community Development Block Grant
requirements that qualified each project for funding.
The Launch Lewis County Grant Committee was able to allocate all the funds
($180,000) and increased funding for some of the grant
amounts. All CDBG funds must be disbursed by May 2023 to awarded
projects.
Grant recipients will also receive ongoing technical assistance through
Naturally Lewis’s DBA Lewis County Program, a professional photoshoot, a
logo and branding package, grand opening or expansion promotion and access
to low-interest loan fund (must qualify). The Naturally Lewis team will
continue to work with ALL the businesses that showed initial interest in
the grant to discuss opportunities and provide additional resources.
To learn more
about Launch Lewis County visit our website, naturallylewis.com/growing-oppurtunities/launch-lewis-county or contact
Jenna Lauraine, Economic Development Specialist
at 315-376-3014 or jenna@naturallylewis.com.
Funding for
Launch LC is provided by the NYS Office of Homes and Community Renewal,
Community Development Block Grant Program.
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