New York

Fulton County, NY identified lack of access to capital as a barrier to entry for potential entrepreneurs. Commercial lenders often view start-up and non-traditiponal businesses as too risky to support. The County provided small grants of up to $35,000 to 14 under-capitalized businesses throughout the County to be used for working capital and machinery and equipment.

With the goal of creating a larger location in a more densely populated area, Strange Design Brewing Company identified a vacant, historic building at 4570 Millennium Drive in the Village of Geneseo, NY which had been acquired by a developer and was targeted for redevelopment. The project allowed an existing craft brewery to expand into Livingston County and create a distinct brand, encouraged the reuse and repurposing of an historic building consistent with the goals and objectives of Village’s Comprehensive Plan. The project created another destination along the NYS Finger Lakes Beer trail.

In 2019, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. (UNC) acquired a vacant 50,000 sq. ft yogurt manufacturing facility in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. The closing of the previous business had resulted in job losses and negatively impacted area dairy farmers who sold to the facility. The Town’s grant to UNC helped to expand job opportunities for low/moderate income individuals and to support area farmers.