Cortlandville- Five years ago Michelle Andersen and her husband Daryl saw an opportunity to invest in a long-established seasonal business and invest in their community. The Andersens purchased the Little Treat Shoppe on Route 11 in the Hamlet of Polkville and have been growing their small business ever since.
During COVID the Andersens saw the demand for their small business soar as people looked for safe, socially distant activities that would get them out of the house, but during the height of COVID, Michelle realized her aging ice cream machines were due for replacement.
Andersen knew that the machines would pay for themselves with increased sales and energy efficiency, but the cost of a new ice cream machine is not so sweet. “The cost of these machines is the equivalent of purchasing a small house,” Andersen said.
To help the Cortland County Business Development Corporation awarded just over $7,000 toward the cost of the new ice cream machine.
The Andersen’s have also made several repairs and upgrades to the shop including new and expanded customer parking. To attract more business from nearby interstate 81, the Andersen’s wanted a new sign, and the BDC supported the business with an additional $5,000 to offset costs associated with the sign and installation.
Both awards come from two small business grant programs that the BDC established using funds provided by the Cortland County Legislature as part of the County’s allotment of American Rescue Plan dollars.
Michelle says owning and operating a small business can be challenging but the BDC grant programs help small businesses address needs that they couldn’t necessarily fund on their own.
