LOWVILLE, N.Y.— Naturally Lewis says its emergency-relief initiatives have helped 11 businesses that were impacted by flooding back in July.
In total, more than $289,000 have been allocated to the affected businesses. Naturally Lewis also notes that applications for the Reboot Fund and Preventative Vacant Property Fund are now closed.
Reboot Fund
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The Naturally Lewis Reboot Fund was made possible through donations received via the Naturally Lewis Reboot Donation Portal that started on July 12 and closed on Aug. 31.
Contributions came from community members, local businesses, corporations, and a match from the Lewis County Development Corporation (LCDC); 21 percent of donations came from donors outside of New York State, the organization noted.
Community support brought the balance of the fund to $89,162.14.
Lewis County businesses were eligible to apply for emergency-relief financial assistance once they submitted receipts for any qualifying expenses. Those included equipment; furniture and/or utility replacement; clean-up expenses; and inventory replacement. Submitted expenses were calculated based on Naturally Lewis’ “process of equitable distribution,” in which each business was allocated 54.97 percent of its total qualified expenses. The impacted businesses include:
- Crave Diner — $1,798.66
- Dimensions Salon — $2,665.94
- DuFlo Agency LLC — $4,906.69
- GrassRoot Meats — $6,032.73
- Lloyds of Lowville — $8,677.10
- Mike’s Appliances — $33,561.21
- North Country CPAs — $15,786.41
- Rhonda Vanucchi — $4,457.46
- Young Law Office, PLLC — $11,275.92
Jeb’s Restaurant
The Lewis County Development Corporation (LCDC) allocated $200,000 toward the creation of an emergency-relief loan fund in its Community Economic Development Program. Funds for this program were provided by Number 3 Wind through a Host Community Agreement and a $25,000 donation from Community Bank, NA.
Jeb’s Restaurant of Lowville was approved for a loan of $100,000. It was the only business to apply for funding from the emergency relief loan fund, Naturally Lewis said.
The emergency loan fund will be an ongoing fund created for any business that has any emergency caused by natural disasters, fires, and more.
Preventative Vacant Property Fund
The LCDC also allocated $200,000 from the vacant-property revitalization (VPR) program toward a “Preventative Vacant Property Revitalization” program.
The VPR program was created in 2023 from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds — allocated to the LCDC by the Lewis County Board of Legislators — to revitalize vacant properties into usable space. This recent allocation was to prevent vacancies due to the flooding. The LCDC awarded Cedar Bridge Properties 50 percent of qualifying expenses up to $100,000.
