Three small businesses have been awarded funds from the town through its Microenterprize Grant Program.
The first award recipients were announced in May after going through the town’s application review process. The businesses are Twisted Vine Wine & Tap, Sky Beauty Bar and Keep Moving with Stephanie.
“Businesses that receive funds must either be owned by a low to moderate income person, or must commit to creating jobs for persons or low to moderate incomes, said Economic Development Coordinator Elizabeth Staubach. “So all the recommendations have committed to one or the other.”
Twisted Vine Wine & Tap is the newest venture from the owners and general manager of Perfect Blend. The wine bar soon to open at Delmar’s Four Corner was awarded $25,000 for machinery and equipment. They will create between four and six part-time jobs.
The new Sky Beauty Bar will be a full service salon and blow dry bar at 339 Delaware Avenue. This will be an expansion of Kelly Anne’s Salon up the road, with all existing stylists transferring to the new location. The business was awarded $15,250 for new furniture, fixtures, machines and equipment. They will start with five employees and expand to 10.
The final winner was Keep Moving with Stephanie, which is a mobile personal trainer service that specializes in working with elderly clients. The service is helpful for those who cannot easily get to the gym. A $5,400 grant was awarded to help purchase new equipment.
“We have another five applications on my desk, and we intend to have another grant application review committee at the end of May,” said Staubach. The recommendations were approved by the Town Board on Wednesday May, 13.
The Town of Bethlehem won a $200,000 microenterprize grant from the state earlier in 2014 as economic development officials continue to seek-out new avenues to promote growth.
Staubach researched and applied for the grant during the summer. The award was given as part of New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal for the creation of a Microenterprise Grant Program. Recipients announced during Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council.
Bethlehem was awarded the maximum amount provided through the grant. The program works so the town is now able to award smaller, microeconomic grants to current businesses looking to grow or to the town.
Businesses with five or fewer employees are able to apply for the grants, with the town able to give awards between $5,000 and $35,000. A plan for how a business wants to use the money must be submitted, along with proof of the incurred costs. The business then must be able to match at least 10 percent of the project’s costs, with the grant money awarded as a reimbursement.
As part of the state’s rules, at least 50 percent of the money must be awarded to start-up businesses, and all businesses that receive the funds must participate in an entrepreneurial training program.
Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region will run the training program for Bethlehem, and topics like financing, marketing, record keeping and accounting will be covered.
Those who wish to participate must apply for the funds through the Department of Economic Development and Planning to determine eligibility, and then go through a review process.
Applications will be reviewed by the Microenterprize Grant Review Committee. Members include Staubach, Joe Richardson from the Bethlehem IDA, Jennifer Kilcoyne, president of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Rob Leslie, director of Economic Development and Planning. After recommendations are given, they must be approved by the Town Board.
It’s believed about 10 grants in total will be awarded through the funds received by the state.
To learn more, visit www.townofbethlehem.org.
