TUPPER LAKE – Small businesses here are getting a $200,000 boost from two state grant programs.

Town board members discussed the progress of a Smart Growth grant and Community Development Block Grant awarded to the town during a meeting Monday.

The CDBG is a microenterprise program that awarded the town $200,000 in 2015 to help small businesses with potential for growth. The town board chose the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation to administer the grant. Its fees for processing paperwork, dealing with applications and training small businesses will total $35,000, leaving approximately $165,000 for local businesses to hire new staff or invest in new equipment. The grant does not fund building extensions, according to town Supervisor Patricia Littlefield.

“For the application process, AEDC did a couple of public meetings here just to see how much interest there was,” Littlefield said. “Believe me, there are businesses in Tupper Lake that even I didn’t know existed that came and showed interest. You’d be surprised in how many people have small businesses in our community with the potential for growth.”

Businesses that are awarded CDBG funding are required to contribute 10 percent of the total funding they are awarded. Littlefield said it won’t be long before the town and AEDC publicize readiness for applications from local businesses.

The Smart Growth grant was more recently awarded and awaits an administrator to coordinate funding. Its $75,000 will be split into two purposes: $25,000 to refurbish the facade of the chamber of commerce building on Park Street and $45,000 to help local businesses with website design and digital marketing.

Town board members on Monday approved an advertising campaign to find a contractor who would provide the digital services to local businesses. Littlefield estimates that after paying approximately $5,000 in administrative fees, $40,000 would remain for businesses.

An independent committee appointed by the town board would review applications for this grant and recommend which businesses should be awarded money.

Another Smart Growth grant is already in action in Tupper Lake. The Adirondack Public Observatory is using $70,000 to develop architectural design and fundraising campaigns for an astro-science museum on its property by Little Wolf Beach.

Because of grant funding recently awarded to Tupper Lake, the town will be exempt from the $200,000 in CDBG funding the Franklin County legislature will soon apply for. This funding will be open to all Franklin County residents outside of Tupper Lake.