$1000 Business Grant Awarded
by Denise-Marie Fisher
Our Board of Directors is pleased to announce the 2023 Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce Business Improvement Grant Winner! The $1000.00 Grant has been awarded to Mike DeMario of CPD Classes. In 2022, the Chamber created our Business Improvement Grant in order to support our Chamber members in their business success. The Chamber formed to support the success and prosperity of our business community. By providing Business Improvement Grants to members who are active participants in our work and mission, we are able to further positively impact and assist the prosperity of our business community.
Customizable Professional Development’s primary purpose is to improve educational outcomes for today’s students by providing high quality, targeted professional development for their teachers. CPD Classes started in 2015 and has already worked with over 25,000 teachers nationwide. Their approach for professional development models an individualized approach to education that in many ways is lacking in today’s schools.
“We are using the grant to bring on an instructor to further develop and deliver teacher professional development related to mental health. As we continue to deal with the aftermath of COVID-19 and the impact that shutdowns and remote learning had on our community’s youngest members, it has become abundantly clear that schools need to embrace strategies to improve social and emotional health”, explained Mike in his winning entry essay.
Congratulations to Mike for his well-deserved win!
Criteria for eligibility: You MUST be a Farmingville Hills Chamber member in good standing. This is
defined as: dues must be current, and you must have attended at least 5 Chamber meetings in a
year. Said meetings must be listed by the applicant and confirmed by the Board. Only Business
owners or management principles of the business may submit an application for the award. Proof of ownership or position at the business must be presented with the application. Must be in
business for at least one year. Non-profit business members are eligible if in existence as an
incorporated non-profit for at least one year. Grant may not be used for rent. Grant may be used
for enhancement of the business/operations, such as: hiring consultant(s); new equipment that
will enhance your services; marketing and advertising campaigns to enhance the business’s reach
and services; paying key employees for specific new project, services, or endeavors that will
enhance the overall offerings and effects of the business. The recipient will be expected to output
this expense PRIOR to the awarding of the funds. Once the receipt(s) from proof of expenditure
is submitted to the Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for review and
confirmation of proper use, the check will be issued by the Farmingville Hills Chamber of
Commerce Treasurer. Applications must include who the grant check should be made out to. All
funds must be spent with proof of expenditure within 6 months of confirmation of being
awarded.