HUNTLEY — The Village of Huntley offers business start-up, location and expansion grants to local small business to help offset the costs of establishing the business’s first physical location. The grant has a maximum $20,000 amount.
The Firestarters Group LLC, doing business as The Irie Cup has requested a grant in the amount of $9,274.32 to off-set some of the leasehold improvements at the 11805 Main Street location for their new store. The grant request was reviewed at the February 23 Village Board meeting.
Previously Lashanda and Joseph Lewis, the proprietors of the business, rented commercial kitchen space to prepare and package their teas and goods. The Irie Cup has been a regular vendor at the Huntley Farmers market as well as other local markets for some time. They also operate an on-line store.
The space at 11805 Main Street was previously occupied by Street Slice Pizza and it required several changes to prepare it for The Irie Cup. The expenses submitted by the owners included architect fees, interior buildout expenses, signage, furniture, fixtures and other equipment. All of these expenses were considered eligible for grant assistance. Items such as inventory, packaging and office supplies are not covered by the terms of the grant program.
According to the grant application, the total estimated start-up costs were in the neighborhood of $25,000. Of that, only $18,548.64 were considered grant eligible. The $9,274.32 amount requested was half of the eligible amount.
