Launch Lewis County

About the Opportunity

serving local

Launch LC is a competitive grant opportunity through Naturally Lewis that helps start-up businesses in Lewis County. The 6-month program will provide entrepreneurs with the training, funding, and the tools needed to successfully open your business. At the program's completion, entrepreneurs will submit business plan proposals for a chance to receive funding for their project. Naturally Lewis has $255,000 in funding to award, and winners will receive a grant of $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000, depending on total project costs.

Naturally Lewis is looking to fund creative entrepreneurs that will enhance the quality of life for residents and make our community a more attractive place to live, work, and play. Naturally Lewis is seeking start-up businesses in the following categories:

Food & Beverage
Small-scale Manufacturing
Tourism
Construction Trades

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Fast Facts

Communities Served: Lewis County
Eligiblity:
- Start-up businesses (new or open less than 6 months)
- Microenterprise For-Profit Businesses (5 employees or less)
- The owner meets the low-to-moderate income guidelines or the business will be creating at least one job to be filled by or made available to someone from a low-to-moderate income household.
Focus areas: Assist entrepreneurs in priority industries (food & beverage, tourism,small-scale manufacturing, construction trades) with the training, funding, and the tools to start-up in Lewis County
Grant Awards: $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000 grants
Short Application Open: March 18, 2024
Short Application Deadline: May 15, 2024
Additional Requirements: Completion of Entrepreneurial Training Course, Full Application, Business Plan and Project Budget

Timeline & Resources

get ready to launch

May 15th

Due Date

Short application & letter of interest are due for program consideration.

May 27th

Notification Date

Program finalists will be notified.

June 2024

Training

Entrepreneurial Training Course for finalists (required) to be held by the Small Business Development Center.

July 31st

Due Date (extended)

Full application, business plan, and project budget due.

August

Application Review

Grant Committee and Lewis County Development Corporation Board will review applications for approval.

September 5th

Grants announced

Program grant recipients will be notified.

Printable Short Form Application

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Informational Flyer

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Informational Slides

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Eligibility & Criteria

applicants & projects must be eligible for funding

Applicant Eligibility Checklist

Must be a for-profit microenterprise business (five or fewer employees)
Be considered low-to-moderate income OR create a job to be made available to low-to-moderate income individuals
- Applicants must be prepared to submit 2022 & 2023 Income Tax Returns to demonstrate eligibility
- If creating a new job is eligibility for grant, awardee must create job first in order to receive grant
Applicants must contribute at least 10% of project cost with personal funds; grant funds can only cover up to 90% of total project cost.

Absolutely NO construction or renovations can be included in the project, including but not limited to new construction, building alterations, structural renovations, infrastructure improvements, painting, windows, and doors.

Project Eligibility Checklist

Start-up businesses (new or open less than six months)
Must be a for-profit microenterprise (five or fewer employees)
Must have a focus on one of the following:
- Food & Beverage
- Tourism
- Small-scale manufacturing
- Construction Trades
Grant funds can only be used to purchase equipment, machinery, furniture and inventory.
Must enhance experiences for tourists and locals, alike
Funding cannot be rewarded for retroactive projects or projects that have already started
Project must be completed by December 2025.