Two LI small businesses receive grand prize in L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants
Optimum Business and the Long Island Association (LIA) announced the two grand prize winners of the second annual L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants on Wednesday, Sep 10.
The program awards one small business each from Nassau and Suffolk counties a $25,000 grant and a $5,000 television advertising campaign from Optimum Media.
“Working alongside Optimum Business to award more than 90 grants to Long Island businesses over the past two years has been truly inspiring,” said Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association. “Small businesses fuel our local economies, and they are run by and employ our families, friends, and neighbors… they are resilient, innovative, and committed to our communities here on Long Island.”
The grand prize grant recipients include Little Feet Big Steps in North Babylon—a licensed day care center that used the initial $5,000 grant for a greenhouse program. The business intends to invest the $25,000 grand prize in replacing its broken, 25-year-old furnace and covering essential operational costs.
Nassau County grand prize winner Freeport Ninja Academy in Freeport used their $5,000 grant for marketing purposes to increase brand awareness. The additional $25,000 in funding will go towards making enhancements to the facility and replacing wear and tear, which the business has not been able to do since opening in Jan. 2020 prior to the pandemic.
The L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants are made possible by its founding partner Optimum Business, as well as the LIA’s continued partnership with the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC).
