CHENANGO COUNTY – Taking aim at local business growth, Commerce Chenango is seeking the nod from county legislators to become the lead agency in a state sponsored program that could grant entrepreneurs up to $35,000 to start or grow a business in Chenango County.

Development Chenango Corporation, the sister agency of Commerce Chenango, is asking the county’s board of supervisors to designate the agency as the local administrator of Empire State Development’s business micro grant program – something the county hasn’t pursued in 14 years.

According to Commerce Chenango Economic Development Director Tyler Oliver, area businesses could be given between $5,000 and $35,000 for items such as equipment purchases, working capital, marketing expenses, or other needs.

While business owners would need to front 10 percent of the grant, Oliver said it’s a small investment that could leave a big impact on their operation.

“We could do this on a municipal level; but for us as an organization, it makes more sense to do this at a county level,” Oliver told legislators on the county’s planning and economic development committee last month. “There are a lot of communities and counties around our area that do this annually. They replenish their pot and have businesses that approach them for different needs”

Once approved as program administrator, Commerce Chenango is eying up to $150,000 from Empire State Development to be dolled out to eligible business owners locally over the course of the year.

“We can apply for up to $300,000,” said Oliver. “But because we haven’t done this in a while, we want to do it on a smaller scale then build the program from there.”

If awarded, grant funding would come with certain stipulations. Business owners are required to have at least one employee of low to medium income and would also need to undergo special business training.

The Chenango County Board of Supervisors will likely take up a resolution approving Development Chenango Corporation as the administrator in grant program at its monthly meeting in August.