Naturally Lewis Announces $180,000 in Launch Lewis County Grants Awarded to Microenterprise Businesses
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.