Pictured left to right are: District 2 Legislator John Ricci; District 2 Legislator Gretchen Hanchett; Village of Cuba Mayor Jason Morrison; SBA Buffalo District Director Victoria Reynolds; Town of Cuba Supervisor Lee James; Allegany County Economic Development Office Director Ashley Smith; Cuba Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kevin White; and District 2 Legislator Dwight “Mike” Healy.
Belmont, NY – For over 60 years,
the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small
Business Week (NSBW) to honor the vital contributions of entrepreneurs and
small businesses across the nation. This year’s celebration held May 4–10,
2025, spotlighting the dedication, innovation, and economic impact of small
business owners nationwide.
Allegany County proudly led the way in
SBA award nominations, with seven local businesses, the highest number
among the 14 counties in the Buffalo region. Notably, five of these nominees
hail from the Town and Village of Cuba, underscoring the community’s vibrant
entrepreneurial spirit.
On May 20, 2025, representatives
from Allegany County and the Cuba Chamber of Commerce joined SBA officials in
Cuba, to recognize the community’s exceptional efforts in Economic Gardening—a
forward-thinking strategy focused on growing local businesses from within. The
SBA Buffalo District formally honored the Town and Village of Cuba for their
proactive support of small business development.
Following the award presentation,
officials toured the community to visit several of the nominated businesses.
Stops included White Imprints, The Radix, Six South Pizza, Tap-n-Pour,
and The Little Alchemy Shop—each a shining example of local
entrepreneurship.
Economic Gardening is a progressive
economic development approach that empowers locally rooted businesses with the
tools, market insights, and strategies needed to expand and thrive. Rather than
relying solely on external business recruitment, this model nurtures internal
growth by supporting entrepreneurs as the drivers of job creation and economic
vitality.
Congratulations to all our local small
business nominees, and to the Town and Village of Cuba for this well-deserved
recognition. Your commitment to local economic growth is a model for
communities across the region.
