Relocate Your Business

to Lewis County, New York

Ready, Set, Relocate!

Looking to locate or expand your business in Lewis County, New York? Naturally Lewis offers a variety of business support services at no-cost to our Lewis County business community, including property and site selection assistance.

Lewis County offers a mix of scenic beauty, vibrant communities, and strategic advantage for business. At Naturally Lewis, we are dedicated to supporting businesses of all sizes in making their mark.

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Cheyenne Steria

Director of Development

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Why Lewis County?

Lewis County, New York is centrally located within New York State and Drum Country to connect your business with opportunity.

Quick Facts

Population: 26,528
Location: Northern New York
Nearest Cities: Syracuse, Utica, Watertown
Cost of Living Index: 94.9%
Unemployment Rate (September 2020): 4.5%

Physical Characteristics

Square Miles: 1,275 sq. mi.
Terrain: Rolling
Altitude: 856-2,110 ft.
Climate: Four Seasons

Ages

Median Age: 41.8 Years
Persons Under 18: 5,995
Persons 18 and Over: 20,301

Housing

Homeownership Rate: 78% NYS: 54%
Median Apartment Rental: $733 NYS: $1,240
Median Unit Value: $128,600

Income & Labor Force

Median Household Income: $60,049
Average Weekly Wage: $840 NYS: $1,347
# Employed (non-farm): 5,800 NYS: 8,381,100

Employment by Sector

Natural Resources: 300
Manufacturing: 900
Services: 2,200
Government: 2,400

Education

High School Diploma: 91.1%
Bachelor’s Degree: 18.8%

Transportation

Watertown Intl. Airport – 37 Miles
Syracuse Hancock Intl. Airport – 88 miles
Highways: Interstate 81, NYS Thruway
State Roads: 12, 26, 812, 410, 126
Lewis County Public Transportation

Available Sites & Properties:

Lyons Falls Mill Site

Lyons Falls, NY

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Former Lyons Falls Elementary School

Lyons Falls, NY

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IDA Incentives for Business Growth

Tax Incentives

Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) - Agreements exempt a qualified company from normal real property taxes, including school taxes. The PILOT allows the applicant to reduced real property taxes, generally scaling taxation up to full rates over a period of years.
Sales & Use Tax Exemption - A qualified company can purchase the equipment, materials & services needed to acquire, construct, reconstruct &/or equip a project without having to pay sales & use taxes (Currently 8% in Lewis County).
Mortgage Recording Tax Exemption - In New York State, a company obtaining a mortgage must pay a 1.00% mortgage recording tax – a significant expense. A qualifying company can receive this tax exemption benefit from the LCIDA.
Lower Interest Rates for Debt Incurred - (2 – 3% lower than the conventional cost of borrowing). Taxable or tax exempt bonds can be issued for qualified companies, subject to the limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This also gives them access to the public financial markets (i.e. GE Credit, Mutual Funds, & Investment Houses). Linked-Deposit loans are also available.

Sale-Lease Agreements

IDAs are authorized to undertake a transaction whereby the Agency takes title, possession or control of a property or a project, thereby entitling such property to be exempt from taxation, even though no financial assistance in the form of proceeds of bonds issued by the IDA is provided to the project occupant.
IDAs may also purchase equipment and sell it to a qualifying company over time, in an installment sale arrangement.

Industrial Revenue Bonds
(Tax Exempt)

Funding for land, building renovation and/or new equipment.
Funding up to $10 million based on financial strength of company.
Minimum Requirements: Determined by bond purchaser; must meet requirements of 1986 Internal Revenue Code.

Industrial Revenue Bonds
(Taxable)

Funding for land, building renovation, and/or new equipment.
Funding: No Limit.
Minimum Requirements: Determined by bond purchaser; must meet requirements of 1986 Internal Revenue Code.

Resources to Grow Your Business

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