Initiative helps firms in Herkimer and Oneida counties ROME — The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties has awarded grants of $5,000 each to five women-owned businesses from Herkimer and Oneida counties to take the next big step in supporting the community. Hosted by the Women’s Fund, and sponsored by Baird Private Wealth Management, […]
Initiative helps firms in Herkimer and Oneida counties
ROME — The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties has awarded grants of $5,000 each to five women-owned businesses from Herkimer and Oneida counties to take the next big step in supporting the community.
Hosted by the Women’s Fund, and sponsored by Baird Private Wealth Management, UpMobility Foundation, and the Griffiss Institute, the grants were presented at the 3rd annual Women Investing in Women awards ceremony and luncheon on Nov. 13 at the Innovare Advancement Center in Rome. The event celebrated the vision, passion, and resilience of women-owned businesses in the two-county area.
“This initiative to support women entrepreneurs in our area began in 2022,” Ellen Rainey, The Women’s Fund board member and chair of the Women Investing in Women committee, said in a news release. “Each year we have seen an outpouring of nominations, and this year was no exception. We had more than 60 women business owners apply. The applications represented a variety of businesses making the judging process exciting and challenging.”
The five grant recipients were the following women-owned businesses.
Live Well Fitness Health and Wellness Center in Little Falls and St. Johnsville, owned by Kelly Daukontas. The business, which started in 2018, provides personal training, group fitness, and nutritional coaching and collaborates with other women-owned businesses that provide massage therapy and chiropractic services. Live Well will use the grant to fund new rubberized floors and equipment purchases.
Sarah Linder, LCSW, PC in Sherrill specializes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) evaluations for all ages and obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety in children. The practice began in 2015. The business will allocate the grant to purchase additional hardware and software for ADHD testing and expand the practice’s reach.
Spring Creek Lavender in Remsen, owned by Kara Keeley and Jane Willis, is a multi-generational lavender and cut-flower farm that provides you-pick lavender, onsite goat yoga, floral design, and lavender retail products. Founded in 2018, the farm has more than 2,000 lavender plants. The grant is for the continued development of a commercial kitchen and production/storage area.
Valentina’s Alterations and Tailor Shop in Herkimer, founded by Valentina Yudchits in 2003, provides sewing and alteration services. The grant will fund the purchase of two new commercial sewing machines.
The Brownie Company in Utica specializes in brownie treats and homemade ice cream. Owner Samantha Arscott purchases products from local farms and vendors to create the treats. She will use the funding to purchase additional commercial-grade baking equipment.
Award organizers also gave a special “rising star” recognition to 15-year-old Emily Spatto of Remsen, a young entrepreneur and children’s book author.
Applicants had to be 51 percent women-owned, located in Herkimer County or Oneida County, and in business for at least one year.
The Women’s Fund has gifted more than $700,000 to individuals and organizations over the past 27 years.
