Leelanau County Business Grant Program awards $19,000 to area businesses

Eighteen Leelanau County-based businesses will receive grants of $1,000 or $1,250 through the county’s Business Grant Program.

The 18 businesses were selected from more than 60 applications received by a review committee charged with dispersing remaining funds from the recent dissolution of the Leelanau County Economic Development Corp. in the form of small grants to county-based businesses. Funds were available for operating capital, new products or services, capital improvements or related business needs.

Companies selected for $1,250 grants were: Great Lakes Tea & Spice, Kilcherman’s Christmas Cove Farm, The Redheads and The V.I. Grill

Businesses awarded $1,000 included: Anderson’s Glen Arbor Market, Brengman Brothers, Clarke’s Transmission, Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate, La Becasse, Laker Shakes Burdickville Market, Leelanau Cheese Co., Sugarfoot Saloon, Sun Dog Boarding Kennel, Suttons Bay Bikes, Suttons Bay Hops, Suttons Bay Massage Center, Suttons Bay Trading Co. and Timberlee Management.

Applications were reviewed by a committee that includes David McCulloch and Linda Peppler of the Leelanau County EDC, county resident Robert Vandermark and Doug Luciani of the Traverse Bay Economic Development Corp., which administered the grant program.

Black Star Farms will host an evening reception in early February where the grants will be awarded. More information is available from Laura Galbraith, senior vice president of finance and administration at the Traverse City Area Chamber, at (231) 995-7110 or email at galbraith@tcchamber.org

About the TBEDC: The Traverse Bay Economic Development Corp. is the economic development arm of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce. It was formed in 1987 and serves businesses, local governments and other partners in Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska counties. Learn more about the Traverse Bay EDC and the Traverse City Area Chamber’s other economic development and business financing initiatives at www.tcchamber.org.