Small Things, Big Impacts Fund
This funding opportunity supports businesses and non-profit organizations in Lewis County, NY, by providing financial assistance for creative projects that enhance their visibility in the community.
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.
Award Range
Not specified - $1,000
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Applicants must be a Business or 501c3 Non-profit Organization in Lewis County, NY. Applicants must demonstrate a need for improving visibility and a commitment to using the grant for that purpose. Applicant must demonstrate a creative and visually appealing approach to increasing visibility. The project should focus on enhancing the applicant’s visibility through one, or more, of the following creative means such as: Street Visibility: Improving storefront signage, banners, or other forms of signage visible to pedestrians and motorists. Digital Visibility: Improving your digital image in the form of a new logo, branding assets or online presence (ex. website). Shelf Visibility: Enhancing product packaging, product displays or shelf placement to attract customer attention. Mobile Visibility: Are you a business that sells things “on the go” (think farmers markets or craft fairs) and need a new, effective setup? Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate a commitment to supporting local businesses. Applicants should indicate their intent to utilize local businesses for purchasing goods and services required for the project whenever feasible. Applicants must demonstrate a match of at least 50% of the project cost. Funding cannot be rewarded for retroactive projects or projects that have already started.
Geographic Eligibility
Lewis County (NY)