First Impressions

As a business, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Whether your viewer is online, on the sidewalk, or on the other side of the street, the impression your business makes will create a lasting impact on your customer’s purchasing and returning habits. You want to make a strong, well-branded, cohesive impression on every person who steps through the door to ensure they leave happy and come back through your door again and again.

Our First Impressions Program funds projects that promote a lasting and genuine first impression of Livingston County’s businesses and communities. This program contributes to creating a sense of place for locals, businesses, and visitors while driving the economy for future success. The First Impressions Program will provide reimbursement of up to 50% for signage, interior or exterior lighting, facade improvements, public art installations or streetscape enhancements, and digital-first impressions. The reimbursement shall not exceed $5,000 for any individual project. This program replaces the Sign + Facade Program.

Dream-O-Vate

Every entrepreneur starts with a dream and the desire to innovate in their field. Produced by Livingston County Economic Development, Dream-O-Vate is a retail business plan competition that encourages entrepreneurs to compete for the chance to open a storefront and earn a coveted business start-up package to turn their dream into reality. The goals of the program are to:

• Recruit new business that will enhance the existing business mix

• Improve the economic climate for all area businesses through increased resident and tourist traffic in our Village cores

• Capture greater resident and visitor spending

• Create a positive buzz about Livingston County and its communities

Through Dream-O-Vate, Livingston County is seeking makers, creators, movers, and shakers to open retail establishments that will enhance the visitor experience in and around our nine historic Main Street districts. We are looking for the next “best” business in LivCo. You bring the innovation – we’ll make the dream come true.

Real Property Tax Law

Our office is constantly working to adopt and implement forward-looking policies that will assist in community revitalization efforts. Livingston County is one of only two counties in the state of New York that offers a tax exemption for mixed-use properties through section 485-N of the Real Property Tax Law. This tax law authorizes the governing body of any town or village in Livingston County to adopt a local law offering a partial tax exemption from town taxes or village taxes to properties that are converted, created, modernized, rehabilitated, expanded, or otherwise improved for commercial and mixed uses.  

If you are in a designated downtown district with a commercial or mixed-use property, you may be eligible. This tax abatement law stipulates years 1-8 at 100% with ratchets down 20% per year until year 12 and applies to properties that have been converted, created, modernized, rehabilitated, expanded, or otherwise improved. Not every designated downtown district in Livingston County has adopted 485N so we recommend you inquire with your village assessor before applying.

New York Main Street

Livingston County Economic Development assists communities in applying to the New York Main Street (NYMS) Program and has successfully completed more than 15 projects to date. These successful projects have stimulated renewed private investment in our central business districts. NYMS provides matching grants to help revitalize historic downtowns through architectural planning, targeted building improvements such as façade renovations, interior commercial or residential building upgrades, and streetscape enhancements. 

Revolving Loan Fund

Livingston County Economic Development offers loans to new or expanding businesses. Revolving loan funds may be used for any justifiable business purpose including, but not limited to startup costs, working capital, expansion costs, and fixed assets including furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Loan terms vary based on the size and use of the loan but generally have a five-year term. A business plan detailing current operations and/or future plans will be required with a loan application. 

NYS Consolidated Funding Application

As part of Governor Cuomo’s transformative plan to improve the state’s economic development model, an NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) has been created that will streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. Livingston County Economic Development can assist with the navigation of state resources available through the CFA and assist with grant writing and administration for eligible projects.

Tax Exemptions

Livingston County Economic Development works to encourage and strengthen business development by providing incentives to qualifying businesses that make significant capital investments and create and retain jobs within Livingston County. These incentives include:

• State and local sales tax exemptions

• Mortgage recording tax exemptions

• Real property tax abatements (PILOT program)

Bonds: 

Livingston County Economic Development has the ability to issue the following types of bonds:

• Tax exempt industrial revenue bonds

• Civic facilities bonds

• Taxable bonds

Livingston County Tourism:

Livingston County Tourism (also known as Visit LivCo) offers additional funding opportunities for businesses and event organizers in Livingston County that aim to drive economic growth through travel and increase the annual visitors and number of overnights in the county.