Naturally Lewis awards $180K in Launch Lewis County grants to microenterprise businesses

LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis is awarding $180,000 in Launch Lewis County grant awards to nine of the county’s microenterprise businesses.

The grants include two $30,000 awards, five $20,000 grants; and two $10,000 awards, Naturally Lewis said.

Launch Lewis County is a business competition grant program that the Lewis County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) administers on behalf of Lewis County to helps businesses start or expand.

Naturally Lewis, based in Lowville, is the economic-development agency for Lewis County. It includes the IDA and the Lewis County Development Corporation.

Funding for the Launch Lewis County program is provided by the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal, Community Development Block Grant program, per a Naturally Lewis news release.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs often have a difficult time accessing capital in small amounts to purchase the equipment they need,” Brittany Davis, executive director of the Lewis County IDA, said. “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.”

The Launch Lewis County grant committee was able to allocate all of the $180,000 in funding and increased funding for some of the grant amounts.

Besides the funding, grant recipients also gain access to ongoing technical assistance through Naturally Lewis’s DBA Lewis County program; a professional photoshoot; a logo and branding package; grand opening or expansion promotion.

Recipients will also have access to a low-interest loan fund, for which the recipient must qualify, Naturally Lewis said.

The recipients of grants include:

• Sterling Valley Maple, LLC of Croghan — $30,000
• The Tack Shack of Glenfield — $30,000
• Munch of Lowville — $20,000
• Simmons Tree Farm of Copenhagen — $20,000
• Turin Highland Lodge of Turin — $20,000
• Vanilla Bean Bake Shop of Lowville — $20,000
• World’s Famous Osceola Hotel of Osceola — $20,000
• Cogumelo Mushrooms of Natural Bridge — $10,000
• Grassroot Meats of Lowville — $10,000