Lewis County firms win $104K for improvement, visibility projects

DeVere Rumble, owner of Hopenhagen Farm in Lewis County, is pictured with a compact tractor that was funded through the Naturally Lewis Building Business Fund in 2023 to support the farm’s growth in accessible agritourism tours for all ages and stages. Naturally Lewis on Nov. 26 announced the latest recipients of grant awards from its Building Business Fund. PHOTO CREDIT: NATURALLY LEWIS

LOWVILLE — Eight Lewis County businesses will use grant awards totaling nearly $104,000 for various projects. Naturally Lewis, Inc. says the money comes from two different funds. The organization in late November announced the recipients of grants from the Building Business Fund and the Small Things, Big Impacts Fund. Building Business Fund is designed to […]

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LOWVILLE — Eight Lewis County businesses will use grant awards totaling nearly $104,000 for various projects. Naturally Lewis, Inc. says the money comes from two different funds. The organization in late November announced the recipients of grants from the Building Business Fund and the Small Things, Big Impacts Fund. Building Business Fund is designed to provide matching funds to businesses looking to scale-up their business operations through various “tools,” and the Small Things, Big Impacts Fund seeks to provide matching funds to businesses and organizations looking to increase their visibility. A total of $103,600 has been awarded to eight businesses in Lewis County; the awarded projects are estimated to have an impact of over $334,000 for the local economy. Naturally Lewis administers the services of the Lewis County Development Corporation. Besides the recipients announced below, Naturally Lewis also noted that applications for the Small Things, Big Impacts Fund are open through this Thursday with $5,000 in funding remaining for 2024.

Funding recipients

The Building Business Fund aims to help businesses that are looking to expand or diversify and “demonstrate an overall benefit” to the community with matching grants greater than $10,000. The recipients include S&S Spray Foam Insulation of Lowville, which was awarded $45,000 to help pay for a new spray foam system that will allow the addition of full-time positions. At the same time, Snow Ridge Resort of Turin will allocate a $30,000 grant for interior upgrades in the Wax House to develop a four-season event venue. In addition, Greene Acres Processing, LLC of Boonville will use its $25,000 award to help pay for a multi-tier sickle bar to “enable enhanced hemp harvesting operations by improving crop-cutting quality and efficiency,” Naturally Lewis said. The Small Things, Big Impacts Fund provides matching grants totaling between $500 and $1,000. The recipients included Squishy’s BBQ & Catering of Lowville, which was awarded $1,000 to help pay for a branded vinyl wrap on a trailer. In addition, Harrisville Food Pantry will use its $450 grant for two interchangeable signs to promote events and programs, and Steeple & Hearth Marketing Collective of Lowville will allocate its $250 award toward a branding project. The matching grants also included $1,000 for North Country Property Maintenance of Lowville, which will help pay for print and digital-marketing materials including yard signs, website development, and promotional materials.; and $900 for Old Croghan Engine House in Croghan, which will help fund four exterior signs that will impact three commercial tenants.
Eric Reinhardt: