FORT PLAIN, New York (NEWS10) – Montgomery County provided assistance to small business owners. One grant recipient shared how the $15,000 reward will help them grow their business and the local economy.
Stephanie Celic is co-owner of Sleepy Forest Bakeshop. She is one of 16 recipients of the county’s Microbusiness Grant Program.
“It feels great to be selected and it’s definitely an honor to be selected,” Celic said.
The Montgomery County Business Development Center awarded local business owners between $5,000 and $35,000, all aimed at spurring economic growth.
Sleepy Forest Bakeshop received $15,000. Celic said he has given them the opportunity to expand their offering.
“We bring some people here and that helps them discover other places and helps build the local economy,” Celic said.
The grant will help them purchase new equipment, including a sourdough bread oven.
“In this county, we really need more sourdough bread. “A lot of our customers really ask for it, so we need a special oven to be able to make really good, crispy sourdough bread,” Celic said.
She wants to start a sourdough bread-making class and hopes to have it up and running by summer.
Sleepy Forest prides itself on sourcing local ingredients and wants to take things up a notch by cultivating more partnerships with cooks, many of whom have already received their own grants.
“We have some customers who come and I know they are very good cooks. “A lot of the farmers here are really good cooks and do their own type of catering, so we hope to partner and collaborate with some of those people,” Celic said.
The Montgomery County Business Development Center said the Microbusiness Grant Program highlights the innovative spirit of its small business sector and is made possible by the New York State Community Development Block Grant.
The center said it’s necessary since median incomes in Montgomery County are lower than median incomes in the state and the U.S.
Celic hopes to help more people discover things to do in Montgomery County.
“In this case, we’re on a main street, so it helps bring people into the community and attract new people here, who go to all the other businesses,” Celic said.
He said they will work to set up a schedule for the sourdough making class, adding that people can expect the bakery to host more events.