COLONIE — A dozen small businesses were awarded grants to help out lingering financial problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Local Development Corporation, as part of its Small Businesses COVID-19 Relief Program, approved an allocation of $100,000 and invited businesses with no more than 10 employees and no more than two locations with the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $5,000.
“These grants offer a hand up to those grant applicants who demonstrated significant losses due to the COVID pandemic,” said Supervisor Peter Crummey. “Business retention and a sound economy are the foundation of the sustainability of our town.”
This is the third grant program that has been made available to Colonie businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the Town of Colonie Industrial Development Agency committed $100,000 for grants to support the additional cost of personal protective equipment. The Town’s Community Development Department also provided $189,500 to assist small businesses through the Community Loan Fund.
“The Local Development Corporation has been promoting local economic development over the years by supporting different projects,” said LDC Chair John Kearney. “This is the first time that the LDC has been able to invest directly in small businesses with this grant program. We’re so very excited to have this opportunity to lend a hand.”
These latest grants are awarded to:
• American Flooring Specialists
• An Clar School of Irish Dance
• Bruno’s Barber Shop
• Capitol Cleaners
• The Corner Deli
• Elite Apparel, Awards and Promotions
• Janelle’s Cleaning Service
• Little Bites Pizza and More
• MK Salon & Barber
• Professor Javas
• Unique Boutique by Gabby
• WellNest Studios
“The quality of life we enjoy here in Colonie has a lot to do with our small businesses,” said Sean Maguire, executive director of the Colonie LDC and commissioner of the town Planning and Economic Development Department. “The neighborhood deli, dry cleaner, barker shop, coffee shop, pizza shop, and more make Colonie what it is — a great place to live, work and play.”
Funding for this program comes from project fees that the Colonie Local Development Corporation receives when assisting not-for-profit entities with issuing bonds to reduce the cost of a project. Some project examples include the issuance of bonds to finance the construction of senior housing at the King Thiel Senior Community and Shaker Pointe at Carondelet.
