Optimum Business and the LIA Foundation Announce the Two Grand Prize Winners of the Second Annual L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants
Following their previous $5,000 grants, two small businesses on Long Island, New York to receive grand prizes of an additional $25,000 each, recognizing their dedication for continued growth within their communities
NEW YORK (SEPTEMBER 10, 2025) – Optimum Business, the leading provider of fiber internet, mobile, and TV services, alongside the LIA Foundation, the charitable arm of the region’s leading business organization, the Long Island Association (LIA), today announce the two grand prize winners of the second annual L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants, which will award one small business from Nassau and Suffolk Counties each a $25,000 grant. Grand prize winners will also receive a $5,000 television advertising campaign from Optimum Media.
Following a $5,000 grant that each business received from the first round of the grant program, the grand prize grant will empower them to further expand their business and make a lasting impact in their communities. The grand prize grant recipients include:
Little Feet Big Steps in North Babylon, in Suffolk County: A licensed day care center that used the initial $5,000 grant for a greenhouse program. The business intends to invest the $25,000 grand prize in replacing its broken, 25-year-old furnace and covering essential operational costs. This support will enable more children currently on the day care’s waitlist to enroll, expanding opportunities for local families.
Freeport Ninja Academy in Freeport, in Nassau County: As a 2024 grant recipient, the Ninja Academy used their $5,000 grant for marketing purposes to increase brand awareness. The additional $25,000 in funding will go towards making enhancements to the facility and replacing wear and tear, which the business has not been able to do since opening in January 2020 prior to the pandemic.
Follow along at optimum.com/business/local-2025 for more information on the L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants.
“Since the launch of this grant program in 2024 with the LIA Foundation, Optimum Business has provided half a million dollars into supporting Long Island’s small businesses, a reflection of our dedication to the vibrant communities in the area,” said Andrew Rainone, Senior Vice President of National Sales at Optimum. “At Optimum, we recognize that small businesses are the backbone of local economies, and we are proud to champion their growth through these grand prize grants. We remain committed to empowering entrepreneurs and look forward to witnessing their ongoing success and the lasting positive impact they’ll make across Long Island.”
“Working alongside Optimum Business to award more than 90 grants to Long Island businesses over the past two years has been truly inspiring,” said Matt Cohen, President & CEO of the Long Island Association. “Small businesses fuel our local economies, and they are run by and employ our families, friends, and neighbors. This grant process confirmed what we suspected to be true – while businesses are still recovering from the pandemic five years ago, they are resilient, innovative, and committed to our communities here on Long Island. We are thrilled have the opportunity to support small businesses in a meaningful way because of the generosity of Optimum Business through the $5,000 grants and expand our impact with these grand prizes.”
“Congratulations to Kathryn Gawrych and the Freeport Ninja Academy on being named one of this year’s L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant winners,” said Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive. “Small businesses are the backbone of Nassau County, and Kathryn’s story is a true example of resilience. After opening just before the pandemic, the Ninja Academy has grown to serve nearly 200 kids each school year while giving back to the Freeport community. This grant will help strengthen the business and support families across Nassau County.”
The L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants are made possible by its Founding Partner Optimum Business, as well as the LIA’s continued partnership with the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC).
Optimum continues to find new ways to deepen its community presence and connect its customers to what matters most, which includes supporting, understanding, and celebrating what makes each of its local communities unique. Through initiatives like the L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants, the company demonstrates its ongoing dedication to fostering growth and making a meaningful difference throughout Long Island.