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Funding Opportunities

2026 Funding Opportunities

Building Business Fund

Fast Facts:

  • Eligible: Businesses in Lewis County, New York
  • Focus Areas: Projects that build business must show expansion or diversification, and overall benefit to the community and promote economic development through growing business. 
  • Forgivable Loans: $10,000 to $50,000 with 50% match of total project cost. 
  • Applications Open: On a rolling basis until funds are distributed 

Funding provided through the Community Economic Development Program.

Business Retention Fund

Fast Facts:

  • Eligible: Existing Businesses in Lewis County, New York
  • Focus Areas: Existing businesses with unforeseen expenses related to natural disasters, acts of God, or mandates that may affect the businesses’ ability to retain employees or operations.
  • Forgivable Loans: Up to $50,000 with 50% match of total project cost.
  • Applications Open: On a rolling basis until funds are distributed 

Funding provided through the Community Economic Development Program and Lewis County, New York American Rescue Plan Act Funds.

Community Connections Fund

Fast Facts:

  • Eligible: Non-profit Organizations, schools or municipalities in Lewis County, New York 
  • Focus areas: Capacity building initiatives or execution of strategic plan or project plan. 
  • Forgivable Loans: $5,000 to $15,000 with no match requirement 
  • Applications Open: On a rolling basis until funds are distributed 

Funding provided through the Community Economic Development Program.

Launch Lewis County

Fast Facts:

  • Eligible: Startup businesses in Lewis County, New York 
  • Focus areas: Low-to-moderate income startup entrepreneurs or businesses that will create a full-time job to a low-to-moderate income individual
  • Grant Awards: $5,000 to $30,000 with a 10% match requirements
  • Applications Open: On a rolling basis until funds are distributed 

Funding provided through the NYS Office of Homes & Community Renewal, in Partnership with Lewis County.

Small Things, Big Impacts Fund

Fast Facts:

  • Eligible: Businesses and Non-profit Organizations in Lewis County, NY. 
  • Focus areas: Small-scale projects that increase capacity or enhance visibility.
  • Grant Awards: $500 to $2,500 per grant with 50% match of total project cost. 
  • Applications Open: On a rolling basis until funds are distributed 

Funding provided through the Community Economic Development Program.

Events and Festivals Fund

Fast Facts:

  • Events and Festivals Funding is available through the Small Things Big Impacts Program
  • Eligible: Businesses and Non-profit Organizations in Lewis County, NY. 
  • Focus areas: Creative and visually impactful strategy to support the growth of their event or  festival
  • Grant Awards: $500 to $2,500 per grant with 50% match of total project cost. 
  • Applications Open: On a rolling basis until funds are distributed;  

Funding provided through the Community Economic Development Program.

Student Pitch Competition

Fast Facts:

  • Eligible: High school students in Lewis County, New York
  • Applications Open: TBD
  • Applications Close: TBD

Funding provided through the Community Economic Development Program.

Vacant Property Revitalization Fund

Fast Facts:

  • Eligible: Commercial property owners in Lewis County, NY. 
  • Focus areas: Projects must target vacant and potentially unsafe or blighted properties within downtown areas to turn them into usable spaces for business development and other opportunities.   
  • Reimbursement Grant: up to $100,000 grant with 50% match of total project costs. 
  • Applications Open: On a rolling basis until funds are distributed 

Funding provided by Lewis County, New York American Rescue Plan Act Funds.

2026 Program Timeline

Applications Open

  • January 15, 2026
  • Remain Open on a Rolling Basis
  • Applications are reviewed quarterly

Applications Close

  • March 31, 2026
  • June 4, 2026
  • October 8, 2026
  • December 3, 2026

Award Announcements

  • May 11, 2026
  • July 7, 2026
  • November 9, 2026
  • January 11, 2027

About the Community Economic Development Program

The Community Economic Development Program was created in 2022 through a Host Community Agreement between the Lewis County Development Corporation and Number Three Wind. Currently, the Program will invest $150,000 in funding on an annual basis.

Since the inception of the Community Economic Development Program, additional donors have included:

  • Lewis County Board of Legislators - Vacant Property Revitalization Fund
  • HLH Living Trust - Events & Festivals Focus Area within the Small Things, Big Impacts Fund

Mission Statement

The Community Economic Development Program is the mechanism for investing in initiatives that build a great quality of life, sustainable employment and collaborative plans that make Lewis County a community to thrive at work and at home.  In viewing our communities as intrinsically interconnected, this county-wide fund is used to grow businesses, enhance individual communities and strengthen our local economy through thoughtful risk-taking, building community partnerships and making wise investments. The fund will leverage the knowledge and expertise of our businesses and communities to invest in projects that make Lewis County a great place to live, work, build business and play for current and future generations.