Launch Lewis County awards $300,000 in CDBG microenterprise grants to 10 local businesses
April 08, 2026 | Lewis County, New York
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Jenna Laraine, representing Naturally Lewis and the Lewis County Development Corporation, told the Board that Lewis County received $300,000 in Community Development Block Grant Micro Enterprise funds in 2024 and used the award to seed small local businesses.
"In 2024, Lewis County was awarded 300,000 in CDBG Micro Enterprise funds," Laraine said, and described the Launch Lewis County competitive program that offered grants of up to $30,000 to microenterprises with five or fewer employees in industries the county prioritized.
Laraine said the program required entrepreneurial training through the Small Business Development Center as mandated by New York State and that final awards were made after committee review of applications, project scope, feasibility and economic impact.
The board-listed awardees and amounts were: $30,000 to Hartley's Meat Market (Port Leyden); $30,000 to Rags and Rivers (Lyons Falls); $30,000 to New Life Construction (Port Leyden); $20,000 to Coffee and Clay Cafe (Constableville); $30,000 to Laval Appliance and Air Conditioning LLC (Lowville); $30,000 to Raven's Quill Bookstore (Lowville); $20,000 to Steeple and Hearth Marketing Collective (Lowville); $30,000 to The Box (Croghan); $20,000 to South Cottage Industries (Lowville); and $15,000 to Backyardigans LLC (Lowville).
Program administrators obtained a six‑month extension from New York State to allow recipients more time to complete projects; Laraine told the board the program will wrap up in mid‑June. She described awards being used for equipment, machinery, furniture and inventory to help startups and small vendors grow within Lewis County.
The public hearing on the CDBG microenterprise program was opened and then left briefly open for additional comment; no further speakers came forward and the board closed the hearing later in the meeting.
The presentation concluded with Laraine saying the program has been "a successful process" and expressing interest in partnering with Lewis County for future Micro Enterprise funding opportunities.
"In 2024, Lewis County was awarded 300,000 in CDBG Micro Enterprise funds," Laraine said, and described the Launch Lewis County competitive program that offered grants of up to $30,000 to microenterprises with five or fewer employees in industries the county prioritized.
Laraine said the program required entrepreneurial training through the Small Business Development Center as mandated by New York State and that final awards were made after committee review of applications, project scope, feasibility and economic impact.
The board-listed awardees and amounts were: $30,000 to Hartley's Meat Market (Port Leyden); $30,000 to Rags and Rivers (Lyons Falls); $30,000 to New Life Construction (Port Leyden); $20,000 to Coffee and Clay Cafe (Constableville); $30,000 to Laval Appliance and Air Conditioning LLC (Lowville); $30,000 to Raven's Quill Bookstore (Lowville); $20,000 to Steeple and Hearth Marketing Collective (Lowville); $30,000 to The Box (Croghan); $20,000 to South Cottage Industries (Lowville); and $15,000 to Backyardigans LLC (Lowville).
Program administrators obtained a six‑month extension from New York State to allow recipients more time to complete projects; Laraine told the board the program will wrap up in mid‑June. She described awards being used for equipment, machinery, furniture and inventory to help startups and small vendors grow within Lewis County.
The public hearing on the CDBG microenterprise program was opened and then left briefly open for additional comment; no further speakers came forward and the board closed the hearing later in the meeting.
The presentation concluded with Laraine saying the program has been "a successful process" and expressing interest in partnering with Lewis County for future Micro Enterprise funding opportunities.
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