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.
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