Naturally Lewis is accepting applications for Launch Lewis County grant program

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LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis, the economic-development agency in Lewis County, says it’s accepting applications for the Launch Lewis County grant program until May 15. In partnership with Lewis County, Naturally Lewis has $300,000 and is seeking entrepreneurs who are looking to start their businesses that will “enhance the quality of life for residents and […]

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LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis, the economic-development agency in Lewis County, says it’s accepting applications for the Launch Lewis County grant program until May 15.

In partnership with Lewis County, Naturally Lewis has $300,000 and is seeking entrepreneurs who are looking to start their businesses that will “enhance the quality of life for residents and make Lewis County a more attractive place to live, work, and play,”per the Monday announcement.

The 6-month program will provide entrepreneurs with the training, funding, and the tools needed to open their business.

Naturally Lewis says it’s seeking creative projects that have a focus in categories that include food & beverage, tourism, small-scale manufacturing, and construction trades.

Once the program is complete, entrepreneurs will submit business–plan proposals for a chance to receive a grant of $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000, depending on total project costs, Naturally Lewis said.

The program will also provide grant recipients with ongoing business support through Naturally Lewis, along with a professional photoshoot, grand opening promotion, and access to low-interest loan fund, for which the business owner must qualify.

Those interested can visit https://naturallylewis.com/growing-opportunities/launchlc.

Applicant eligibility

Those applying must be a for-profit microenterprise business with five or fewer employees.

To qualify for a grant, applicants/owners must be considered low to moderate income, or they must create a job that will be available to low to moderate income individuals. To make income determination, Naturally Lewis says an applicant must be prepared to submit both 2022 and 2023 income tax returns to demonstrate eligibility; and, if creating a new job for grant eligibility, the awardee must create a full-time job first in order to receive the grant.

In addition, Naturally Lewis says applicants must contribute personal funds to cover at least 10 percent of the total project cost. Grant funds can only cover up to 90 percent of the project cost.

Applicants must be startup businesses, meaning they’re either new or in operation for less than six months.

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Also certified as environmentally friendly TULLY — Dutch Hill Maple, LLC, which participates in the New York State Grown & Certified program, on March 1 formally opened its new sugarhouse, which was completed in 2023. The program “promotes farms that adhere to a higher standard for food safety and environmentally friendly practices,” the New York

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Also certified as environmentally friendly

TULLY — Dutch Hill Maple, LLC, which participates in the New York State Grown & Certified program, on March 1 formally opened its new sugarhouse, which was completed in 2023.

The program “promotes farms that adhere to a higher standard for food safety and environmentally friendly practices,” the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said in its March 1 announcement.

New York State Grown & Certified verifies New York’s agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental-sustainability standards.

As part of the kickoff to Maple Month, Richard Ball, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, visited Dutch Hill Maple, a family-owned farm in Tully, for an annual maple-tree tapping.

The event was meant to highlight the Empire State’s maple industry and the maple producers participating in the New York State Grown & Certified program. The event also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new sugarhouse.

Dutch Hill Maple is one of the nearly 150 maple sugarmakers who will host Maple Weekends, helping to boost agri-tourism across New York state.

Nate Williams — who grew up with the family tradition of making maple syrup every year with his father and brother — purchased the property that would become Dutch Hill Maple in 2014 with Cristy, his wife and business co-owner.

In 2022, they began construction of a brand-new sugarhouse to better accommodate the needs of their business, the Department of Agriculture and Markets said. In their 2023 season, the Williams’ produced more than 5,000 gallons of maple syrup, their highest production yield to date.

With the 2024 maple season marking the first year of making syrup in their new sugarhouse, the Williams’ hope to further expand production.

“This is an exciting time of year for maple producers across the state, as maple trees seem to come alive with the flow of sap, which is then crafted into deliciously sweet maple syrup,” Cristy and Nate Williams said in the department’s news release. “Maple Weekends offer a wonderful, family-friendly opportunity to get out and meet the hardworking sugar makers behind the jug on your breakfast table, learn how maple syrup is made right in your ‘backyard,’ and most importantly, taste delicious maple products right at the source.”

Dutch Hill Maple is located at 1275 Woodmancy Road in the town of Tully, in southern Onondaga County.

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