Small Things, Big Impacts Fund

The "Small Things, Big Impacts" grant, offered by Naturally Lewis, aims to support for-profit and not-for-profit businesses and organizations within Lewis County, NY. This initiative is designed to enhance the visibility of local businesses through creative and impactful improvements that do not require substantial financial investment. Naturally Lewis's mission, as evident through this grant, is to foster sustainable growth and long-term success for local enterprises, thereby generating a positive economic ripple effect throughout Lewis County. This grant aligns with a strategic focus on empowering small businesses and non-profits, recognizing their collective contribution to community vitality and economic resilience. The grant targets businesses and 501c3 non-profit organizations located in Lewis County, NY. The primary impact goal is to facilitate increased visibility for these entities, leading to an expanded customer base and improved community engagement. This, in turn, is expected to drive economic development within the county. The program's theory of change posits that by providing modest funding for strategic, visibility-enhancing projects, businesses will experience incremental yet significant growth, ultimately contributing to a stronger local economy. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrate a clear need for improved visibility and a commitment to utilizing the grant for that specific purpose. Key areas of focus include Street Visibility (e.g., storefront signage, banners), Digital Visibility (e.g., logos, branding assets, websites), Shelf Visibility (e.g., product packaging, displays), and Mobile Visibility (e.g., craft fair booths, food truck setups). Preference is given to proposals that also commit to supporting other local businesses by procuring goods and services within the county whenever feasible. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the visibility of participating businesses and organizations, leading to new or increased customer engagement. Success will also be measured by the completion of projects within six months and adherence to the required 50% match of the project cost. Naturally Lewis strategically aims to achieve these outcomes by offering awards between $500 and $1000 per grant, believing that these "small things" can indeed create "big impacts" on the economic landscape and overall well-being of Lewis County.