LDC offers Business Builder Grant for Licking businesses

Licking Development Company

The Licking Development Company (LDC) started in 1949 and celebrated its 75-year anniversary in July of this year. The new board is excited to offer new opportunities and fresh ideas, and to continue supporting local businesses. LDC is launching a new business builder grant opportunity beginning on December 1, 2024. It will be offering local business builder grants of up to $5,000 each (eligible businesses must be in the 65542 zip code).

LDC Board Secretary-Treasurer Rawly Gorman shared that LDC is excited to provide this opportunity for small business owners in our community. He explained that the Board’s hope is that business owners will be able to expand, make improvements, or even start a new business. The board believes this will spark economic growth and create positive momentum for Licking.

“As lifelong community members and now board members of the Licking Development Company, we look forward to the opportunity to carry on where our forefathers left off,” said board member Alan Quick. “We hope that this grant program will help small business owners expand or even start a new business and continue to keep our community alive.”

If you are a new business looking to start up, or an existing business looking to expand or add services, you may send a completed application to Lickingdevelopmentcompany@gmail.com. Applications must include your name, address, email, EIN and phone number, a description of your business and the service it provides, why you need financial assistance, and how your business will provide additional employment or services to the community if you are awarded a business builder grant.

“We all have a concern about the loss of small businesses in Licking over the past 20 years and we all share the mindset that we have to try to push or boost economic growth in our community. What better way than to give our already small business owners another avenue to potentially grow and add a few more good jobs!” stated board Vice President Colton Lewis.

Board President Chris Roper added, “We want to remind everyone to please support our local businesses. We can all show our support to our local businesses by shopping local when we can, and keeping dollars in our community. We hope that this new business builder grant program will spur new growth, help add local jobs, and maybe even help someone starting up a new business opportunity!”

If you are an individual or an organization that would like to make a donation to support the LDC Business Builder Grant program, contact a board member at the email address listed above.