2025 L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant Application

The LIA Foundation is proud to once again support small businesses in Nassau and Suffolk Counties through the generous support of Founding Partner Optimum Business and in partnership with the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC).

The 2025 L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant program will directly fund 40 small businesses in communities across Long Island (20 in Nassau County and 20 in Suffolk County) with $5,000 grants. This year, there will also be two $25,000 Grand Prize recipients, one in Nassau County and one in Suffolk County, for businesses that have experienced severe financial hardship and distress as demonstrated in this application.

The application is due by March 28, 2025. After a review by a Selection Committee, we anticipate businesses will be notified in May 2025 for $5,000 grants and later in the summer for the Grand Prize.

It is a requirement that all applicants read the Official Rules on the LIA Foundation webpage prior to submitting the application - www.longislandassociation.org/foundation.

Please note that in addition to the questions below you must provide a link to a two-minute video as part of your application.

Applicants who have not previously applied to the L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant program and are not currently members of the Long Island Association will receive a six-month complimentary membership, and the LIA will be reaching out with more information after the application is submitted.

LIA, LIAACC, and LIHCC membership or status as an Optimum Business customer will not be considered in the evaluation of this application.

Thank you for submitting your application for the L.O.C.A.L. Small Business grant. We appreciate your time and effort in applying.

Save the date! Join us on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. for the Optimum Small Business Summit, where we’ll celebrate the incredible small business community. $5,000 winners will be announced prior to the event, so stay tuned!
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2025 L.O.C.A.L. SMALL BUSINESS GRANT APPLICATION

I would like my business to be considered for the following: *

A $5,000 L.O.C.A.L. Grant (2024 Grant Recipients are not eligible) The $25,000 Grand Prize (you must answer questions demonstrating extreme financial hardship in the application) Both the $5,000 grant and the Grand Prize

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

If you answer no or none of the above to any of these questions, your business is ineligible for the L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant.

I have read and agree to the Official Rules of the LOCAL Small Business Grants on the grant homepage. *

Yes No

My business has 10 or fewer full-time employees. *

Yes No

My business has a location in Nassau and/or Suffolk County. *

Yes No

My business has one of the following locations: *

A brick-and-mortar storefront that is not a home-based location (this could be in a downtown, commercial corridor, or office building location). A New York State Office of Family and Children Services-licensed day care facility (this can be a home-based location). A business that is dependent on vehicles to provide services to customers, such as a construction or landscaping company (this location can utilize a home-based address). A business that provides services to the community and spends a majority of our time on-site with clients (this can be a home-based address but the activities need to be described in the application). An agriculture, viniculture, or aquaculture business that has outdoor facilities. A food truck business. None of the above

My business is one of the following entities. *

A business corporation A not-for-profit corporation A limited liability company A general partnership A limited partnership A sole proprietorship None of the above

I agree to provide a headshot and business photo to be included in LIA and program sponsor promotional materials (this includes print and digital media and across social media platforms). *

Yes No

I understand selected grant recipients will be subject to an interview, an individual background check, and a business background check prior to receiving the award and this information must be submitted within three days of being contacted by the LIA Foundation. *

Yes No

I authorize the LIA Foundation and Program Sponsors to utilize my logo on its website and on announcement materials. *

Yes No

If I received a 2024 L.O.C.A.L. Small Business grant and I am applying for the 2025 Grand Prize, I submitted my progress report.

Yes No N/A - did not receive a 2024 grant

I have recorded a two-minute video describing my business and how I am going to use the funds, which I understand is a requirement of my application. Videos can be taken on a mobile phone in landscape orientation and must be shared via a link in a later question. *

Yes No

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please read this over for accuracy, as this information will be used to contact you regarding the status of your application.

Business Name *

If you have a d/b/a please include it in your answer above.

Primary Contact for application (at least a 50% owner of the business entity)

First Name *

Last Name *

Primary Contact email address *

Primary Contact phone number *

Please enter a cell phone number or another number where you can be easily reached.

Primary business address

Address Line 1 *

Address Line 2

City *

Zip/Postal Code *

Please list the names of all of the owners of the business enterprise and their percentage of ownership. *

Primary County where my business operates *

Please list any other business locations (if none please write N/A) *

Business website (if none please write N/A) *

How long has your business been in operation on Long Island (Nassau or Suffolk County)? *

Fewer than 5 years 6 -10 years 11- 20 years 21- 50 years More than 50 years

Does your business have any special certifications or is located in a disadvantaged community?

Examples of certifications include New York State Minority-Owned Business, Women-Owned Business, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business. Visit NYS Empire State Development's website for more information: https://esd.ny.gov/doing-business-ny/mwbe

L.O.C.A.L. SMALL BUSINESS GRANT APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Please be concise and answer in full sentences. Completeness of your response will be taken into consideration during the selection process. We suggest you write this questions on a word document first then copy and paste them into the application.

Please describe your business and the products or services it offers in two to three sentences. Note: 500 characters with spaces max. Question required for both $5,000 and $25,000 grant applicants. *

How will the proposed project for this grant support the growth of your business and help your community? Note: 800 characters with spaces max. Question required for both $5,000 and $25,000 grant applicants. *

If you are applying for the $5,000 grant: How will your business use these funds in 2025? Note: 800 characters with spaces max. Question required for $5,000 grant applicants.

If you are applying for the Grand Prize: How has your business experienced extreme financial hardship? If a specific event has caused this hardship, please describe its impact on your operations and finances. Note: 800 characters with spaces max. Question required for $25,000 grant applicants.

If you are applying for the Grand Prize: How will your business use the $25,000 in grant funds? Note: 800 characters with spaces max. Question required for $25,000 grant applicants.

Provide a link to a video that is no longer than two minutes that describes your business and how you plan to use the grant funding. *

Examples of sharing services that can be used are Dropbox or Google Drive. Ensure the settings on the link allows anyone to open the video. Please upload the video to the service in MP4 format. Cell phones may be used to take the video, please record the video in landscape orientation. Please email us at foundation@longislandassociation.org with any technical difficulties. The Selection Committee will not watch past two minutes.

Please upload your current logo. *

Please upload a high resolution jpeg, png, or PDF file. 10MB maximum file size.

Please upload the current headshot of the business owner/primary applicant. *

Please upload a high resolution jpeg, png, or PDF file. 10 MB maximum file size.

Please upload a photo of your business location (for example, your storefront or construction vehicle). *

Please upload a high resolution jpeg, png, or PDF file. 10MB maximum file size.

For Grand Prize Applicants: Upload a photo or documentation that demonstrates your extreme financial hardship.

Please upload a high resolution jpeg, png, or PDF file. 10MB maximum file size.

For Grand Prize Applicants: Upload a photo or documentation that demonstrates your extreme hardship.

Please upload a high resolution jpeg, png, or PDF file. 10MB maximum file size.

2025 L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant Application

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