Palmyra Chamber of Commerce awards first-ever Business Development Grants

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.

Email

Submit

← Back

by Mark Cheffey

The Palmyra Chamber of Commerce has awarded its first two Business Development Grants.

And the recipients said they were pleasantly surprised and  believe they were very helpful to their businesses.

Receiving the $2,500 grants were Zane Meyers, who recently opened Meyers Barber Co in downtown Palmyra, and Katelyn Ferry, owner of Simply Picked Country Store on Marion City Road along the east side of U.S. 61.

“This really helps,” said an emotional Ferry, right after a Chamber delegation surprised her at her store with the check.

Ferry said she buys all of her product out of pocket, so the extra monetary boost from the Chamber came in handy.

The grant will actually cover the cost of a new awning she had installed on the front of the building.

Meyers, too, said he was caught off guard by the arrival Thursday afternoon of the Chamber grant delegation.

 

“I was completely surprised,” said Meyers, who was also holding the grand opening for his barber shop at 114 E. Lafayette, just off Main Street.

“It will get me off to a good start,” he said.

The grant program is directed at for-profit businesses. All applicants must demonstrate the ability to obtain additional financing from customary lenders.

Applications were accepted up until Oct. 31 of this year.

Grant money is given to the recipient in the form of reimbursement and will be disbursed only after adequate documentation is submitted.  

The recipients also need to be or agree to become a member of the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce.  

A selection committee will base awards on concept and innovation, viability, financials, sustainability and economic impact.