Optimum Business and the LIA Foundation announce relaunch of small business grants
This week, the LIA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Long Island Association (LIA), along with Optimum Business, announced the relaunch of the L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants, which will directly fund 40 small businesses in communities across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
“By providing these grants once again, we are not just investing in individual businesses, but in the economic health and future prosperity of our entire region,” said Andrew Rainone, senior vice president of national sales at Optimum.
Applicants can receive up to $30,000 for their business through L.O.C.A.L., which stands for ‘Lifting Our Community Businesses Across Long Island’, with the program distributing $5,000 grants to each selected business recipient as well as two $25,000 grants to one recipient in Nassau County and one in Suffolk County to contribute to the prosperity of the communities where they serve.
“The LIA is extraordinarily proud to partner once again with Optimum Business, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce to stimulate economic growth across Long Island,” said Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association. “Small businesses fuel our region’s vibrancy, and the goal of L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants program is to empower entrepreneurs, create jobs, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents on Long Island.”
The LIA will also offer a six-month and one-year complimentary membership to the LIA, respectively, for program applicants and grant recipients who are new to the LIA to further promote their development and help them build their networks.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and the diverse entrepreneurs who power them are key to Long Island’s prosperity,” said Luis Vazquez, president of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to play a role in lifting up our business community and ensuring a thriving, inclusive economic future for all.”
To date, Optimum Business and the LIA Foundation have awarded $250,000 in grants to 50 small businesses on Long Island. The LIA is continuing to partner with the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC) to expand outreach to the region’s community businesses.
For more on the L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants, including submission requirements, official program rules, and how to submit, visit www.longislandassociation.org/foundation/.
