LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis says it has awarded a total of $50,000 to two Lewis County businesses as part of the Launch Lewis County initiative.

Coffee & Clay Cafe will use $20,000 for startup equipment, furniture and inventory for a new cafe and pottery studio in Constableville.

At the same time, Hartley’s Meat Market will use $30,000 for startup equipment and inventory for a retail meat market in Port Leyden.

The funding was awarded on behalf of the Lewis County Development Corporation (LCDC), Naturally Lewis said.

Launch Lewis County is made possible through a grant from the New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Community Development Block Grant program. Launch Lewis County is a partnership between LCDC and Lewis County.

Based on state requirements, Launch Lewis County is a microenterprise grant program for low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs or for those creating a new, full-time position.

“As we are working to develop an entrepreneur-led economy, programs like Launch Lewis County are driving us forward,” Brittany Davis, executive director of Naturally Lewis, Inc., said in the announcement “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.”

 Qualifying for funding

In order to qualify for the Launch Lewis County Microenterprise Grant program, businesses must have a small-business idea or a desire to innovate their existing small business.

In addition, an applicant must be considered low-to-moderate income based on 2023 income tax returns or create a new full-time job that will be made available to low-to-moderate-income persons.

Applicants must also contribute at least 10 percent of total project costs and must complete their project by December 2025, Naturally Lewis said.

The economic-development agency says it’s currently seeking additional applicants for the Launch Lewis County grant program with $205,000 in grant funds still available.

For more information on the Launch Lewis County grant program and the process to apply for funds, you can visit naturallylewis.com/growing-opportunities/launchlc.