Close of Restaurant Revitalization Fund
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 The US SBA has announced the closure of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).
Due to overwhelming demand, the SBA was unable to fund all qualified applications with the original appropriation provided in the American Rescue Plan Act.
Applicants who have not received funding will have their applications held within the application platform to allow for processing in the order received if additional funds are provided by Congress. |
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Thursday, July 22, 4:30-6pm
Join the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency for the next "Nature & Networking" event at the Gouverneur Community Center at 4:30pm on Thursday, July 22nd!
At 4:30, attendees who wish to may join a small group 'walk & talk.' Others are welcome to stay behind at the Community Center. The Networking Program will begin at 5:00, focusing on employee retention and provide opportunity for businesses to share thoughts in an open discussion. Door prizes, appetizers, and a cash bar will be provided.
For more information and to register, click below!
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July Blood Drives are Underway Locally
The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage because as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants, and elective surgeries rise - its depleting the nation's blood inventory.
Promotions for July Include:
- In thanks for giving this July, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for four to Cedar Point of Knott's Berry Farm.
- Those who come to give blood, platelets, or plasma July 7-31 2021, will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card via email, in addition to receiving automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value).
Local Upcoming Drives:
- July 21 - 10am-3pm @ Canton Best Western University Inn (Laurentian Room)
- July 30 - 12pm-5pm @ Canton Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot (Meeting Room)
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Getting Back on Track: Help is Here
July 22 @ 2:00pm
The US Small Business Administration and Public Private Strategies Institute will host a webinar to help you get your business back on track.
- Hear about what steps you can take now to learn and take advantage of new and existing programs that are available at the SBA
- Have your questions answered by SBA Leadership and small business experts
- Learn how you can become a vaccine leader in your community
- Discover tools and resources you can use to take your business digital
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Building Your 10-Star Experience
June 14-Aug 30
ThINCubator will be launching their latest online sprint starting June 14.
Over 3 weeks (at your own pace) participants will take lessons from the likes of Airbnb, Apple, Ferrari, and more and help develop a customer experience that creates true fans and customers that would miss you if you weren't there.
Participants will come out of this program with a better understanding of the problem a business would have to solve, how to build a better customer experience, and measure success.
This sprint is free and open to the public. Participants will have access to all video modules through 8/30/2021.
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SLC Chamber of Commerce YouTube Channel
Missed a webinar from the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce? Curious what they've discussed in the past? Check out the Chamber's history of recorded webinars - there is a ton of great information in these recordings. Visit their YouTube page, and subscribe to their channel if you are interested!
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COVID-19 Information & Funding
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NYS COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program Applications Now Open
Empire State Development is happy to announce the NYS COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, which was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations in the State of NY who have experienced hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is NOW OPEN.
Grant awards will be calculated based on a business' annual gross receipts for 2019.
For eligibility requirements and more information regarding this program, click the link below.
The program is administered by ESD and powered by Lendistry.
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Shuttered Venue Operators Grants
 The shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal is now available for applications.
Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
Eligible entities include:
- Live venue operators or promoters
- Theatrical producers
- Live performing arts organization operators
- Relevant museum operators, zoos, and aquariums who meet specific criteria
- Motion picture theater operators
- Talent representatives, and
- Each business entity owned by an eligible entity that also meets the eligibility requirements.
For more information visit the Small Business Administration's SVO Website.
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Canton COVID-19 Recovery Loan Fund
The Town of Canton COVID-19 Recovery Loan Fund still has funds available to support small businesses within the Town of Canton.
Small businesses and non-profits with twenty-five or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTE) that have been in business for at least six months are eligible to apply. The Program may provide loans for the greater of $10,000, or $1,000 per FTE with a maximum of $25,000, and can finance working capital, and expenses (supplies, equipment, etc.) related to adherence to precautionary guidelines to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Loans are for a term of five years at an interest rate of zero percent (0.0%) with no payments for the first six months.
New businesses and start-ups that might not qualify for this fund may instead be eligible for the Town of Canton Revolving Loan Fund.
For more information on either of these programs, please contact Leigh Rodriguez, Director of Economic Development, at lrodriguez@cantonny.gov OR 315-386-2871 x5. |
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North Country Alliance Emergency Working Capital Program
- Up to 5-year loans
- No payments due in the first three months
- Interest-only payments for the next six months
- Two-week turnaround to receive funds
Working with Empire State Development, the North Country Alliance has created a working capital program that provides loans for 5 years with no payments due in the first 3 months. Interest-only payments are due for the next six months, and then regular payments will be due. Form the time a business submits an application to when it receives the funds is as short as two weeks.
These funds provide critical working capital as businesses struggle to understand the ramifications of the pandemic. It also provides some relief until federal stimulus funds become available. To date, the NCA has assisted 10 businesses, lending $115,000.
This fund is still available for businesses interested in applying. They understand that the pandemic is still impacting businesses a year later. For more information, contact Matt Siver at msiver@danc.org.
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New York Forward Loan Fund Accepting Pre-Applications!
The New York Forward Loan Fund is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting the state's small businesses with 50 or fewer Full-Time Employees (FTEs), nonprofits, and small residential landlords that have seen a loss of rental income, as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. The working capital loans are timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have up-front expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g. inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan.
For more information and terms, click the buttons below:
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HELP SLOW THE SPREAD
Ideas for helping slow the spread of COVID in your place of business:
- Check employees for symptoms every day. If any symptoms exist, they should stay home. If you are able to isolate a sick employee, others will not need to be placed in quarantine.
- Individuals should stay home from the time they are tested to the time they receive results.
- Have employees work in cohorts. This will make tracing easier and limit the exposure if there is a positive case at your business.
- Shift break and lunch times so that employees are always on break in their cohort or by themselves.
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Looking to Elevate Your Woman-Owned Business?
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SBA Announces Ascent
 Ascent is an interactive, digital platform packed with resources that women business owners need to set, and achieve, their business goals. Ascent is designed for the "missing middle" - growth oriented women entrepreneurs who are beyond the start-up phase and already generating revenue yet looking to grow and scale. Click below for more information! |
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 Update from the Director
Canton Office of Community Economic Development
2021 continues to surprise and challenge us from day to day. However, the Office of Economic Development is committed to supporting you, and working to keep you updated and informed every step of the way. We'd also like to keep you up to date on what's going on in our office. Here are a few highlights:
- The ED Team is meeting weekly to discuss grant priorities and funding opportunities. It appears likely we will submit two applications through the Consolidated Funding Application round for State grants - stay tuned for more information!
- A group continues to meet in anticipation of the announcement of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Round 5. More information on this will be coming soon as it becomes available.
- The Park and Fountain project in the Village green continues to move forward. The fountain has been fully refurbished and installed in the park, and officially opened with a lovely ceremony on July 9. Tree maintenance work will be commencing very soon.
- The final Grasse River Blueway Marketing Plan has been received and can be viewed on our website. We encourage you to check it out! We are interested in having volunteers help with developing descriptions and submitting photos of specific trail segments along the Grasse River that can be uploaded to the STLCTrails Website.
- As part of the Miner Street widening project, power poles have been moved and engineering work for the final design is in progress.
- A committee has been established to begin work on the project to enhance Willow Island with an outdoor performance space, play area, updated parking and landscaping.
Thanks for your continued interest and support of our office and the Town and Village of Canton. Together we will continue to move forward!
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Small Business Advising
Contact the SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for an appointment - 315.386.7312 or online here.
COVID-19 Online Resources
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Canton Business Owners
We want to hear from you!
Email Jeni Reed, Economic Development Assistant, to share your thoughts, concerns, and stories. We will respond with content and information that is tailored to your interests and needs for this time of uncertainty.
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