The City of Cortland Common Council met last night at City Hall with one of the items on their agenda, to approve another Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) Funds under the Community Development Block Grant to a local business.
The business awarded funds was LaBamba Cuisine, which is a restaurant to be located in the Riverside Place in the City of Cortland. The City’s MAP Review Committee recommended awarding the business $35,000 to the Common Council.
Additional information was provided to the council by Linda Armstrong from Thoma Development. Armstrong is the program manager for the City of Cortland’s Microenterprise Assistance Program.
The new restaurant will be a family-owned and with a Caribbean flavor, casual fast-type-food style. Armstrong noted the family has spent a “significant amount” of their own money for purchasing equipment needed.
She also notes the owners business plan was thoroughly worked out and noted there is no other type of restaurant in the Cortland area serving this style of food.
“The Committee agreed that we would like to fund them at the full $35,000 because restaurants have a very difficult time, but we [the Committee] feel this will pull people off of I81.” Armstrong said on the amount of funding given.
It was also noted the new restaurant is working with SUNY Cortland to accept the schools “Dragon Bucks.”
The Council voted unanimously to approve Mayor Steve to sign commitment letters that detail the terms and conditions of the funding.
The restaurant hopes to open by the end of August.
