Livingston County Economic Development

08/27/2026

Our Small Business Marketing series starts on Monday! Sign up today: https://www.growlivco.com/marketing-workshops

Growing Local is a small business marketing workshop series focused on helping Livingston County businesses strengthen how they show up, connect with customers, and grow their presence both online and within the community.

The series combines branding, marketing, social media, websites, customer communication, content creation, customer experience, and business visibility into one practical roadmap designed specifically for small businesses.

Each workshop focuses on real-world marketing concepts, approachable strategies, and practical tools businesses can apply to strengthen their visibility, customer connection, and overall business presence.

08/10/2026

Our first Business Spotlight takes us to Ironwood Studios!

Located in Springwater, NY, Ironwood Studios is a women-owned welding space on a mission to bridge the gap between art and trade. Through hands-on weekly workshops, immersive classes, and creative retreats, the mission is to empower women to pick up the torch, master new skills, and bring their boldest ideas to life.

Founder and CEO Stacey Mrva relocated to Livingston County from Monroe County during the pandemic. In her new home, Stacey found more than just a change of scenery; she found a deeply supportive community where small businesses truly thrive.

After connecting with Grow LivCo, Stacey unlocked the potential of her space. Through their support she was able to secure the Dream-O-Vate grant. Bringing her vision to life, she was able to Transform the upstairs of her barn into a vibrant retreat and event venue, perfectly complementing her downstairs welding studio. "I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of Grow LivCo," Stacey shares.

Looking ahead, Ironwood Studios has big plans to expand its impact on the community:

🎨 Creative Hub: Continuing to serve as a local sanctuary for artistic expression.

🌎 Community Art: Giving back through functional, public art installations.

👧 Youth Empowerment: Hosting welding classes for young girls.

📈Career Pathways: Launching a specialized program to help women earn professional welding certifications.

"If you are looking to start a business in Livingston County, reach out to the team at Grow LivCo. They are genuinely supportive and always have your best interest at heart." - Stacey Mrva

Find Your Spark at : https://ironwoodstudiosinc.com

👀Stay tuned for the awesome footage we got at the studio

07/30/2026

CO.STARTERS Core offers mentorship, peer support, and practical tools to help you build a business that works in the real world. If you’re serious about turning your passion into something sustainable, this program is for you. ✨

This fall's cohort is designed for creatives, side-hustlers, and small business owners ready to shape and strengthen their ideas in a collaborative environment.

Applications are open at growlivco.com/events

07/27/2026

Secure your legacy! 🚀

Join our Economic Development Succession Planning Workshop to learn how to transition your business seamlessly, protect your employees, and keep our local economy thriving.

Limited spots available - register today!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1ULaTAWuxmlSpt0lnU2OxacDTTbFmhZ7Iz7RAYBZ1fpMbDw/viewform

📅 Date: August 3, 2026

⏰ Time: 12pm-3pm

📍 Location: Livingston County Government Center Room 100B

6 Court St. Geneseo, NY 14454

💲Cost: $25/per person

Tag a business owner who needs to see this! 👇

07/07/2026

Do you have a succession plan? 🤷‍♂️

Don't leave your business’s future to chance. Join us for an interactive workshop designed to help business owners start planning for a successful transition.

📅August 3, 2026
⏲️Time: 12 - 3 PM

You'll learn how to:
✅Explore your business transition and succession options
✅Start conversations with family, partners, or future owners
✅Avoid the costly mistakes of waiting too long

Walk away with:
✅Practical planning tools
✅A personalized transition action plan
✅Greater confidence in your next steps

Space is limited, and advanced registration is required. Learn more and register at:

Don't leave your business’s future to chance. Join this interactive workshop designed to help business owners start planning for a successful transition.

06/30/2026

☕️ Big congratulations to Christy Harrington and the incredible team at Milk & Honey Cafe on West Main Street in Lima for their recent feature on 13WHAM / FOX Rochester!

We are honored to have partnered with Milk & Honey from the very beginning. Through our Dream-O-Vate program, First Impression grants for building aesthetics and signage, and initial operating cost assistance, we’ve been proud to support their startup-to-growth journey.

Thank you, Christy and team, for creating an intentional space where everyone in Lima feels welcome!

🎥 Watch their full "My ROC Story" interview here: ⁠https://13wham.com/features/my-roc-story/my-roc-story-milk-honey-cafe-builds-community-in-lima-through-coffee

06/25/2026

Congratulations to our spring 2026 CO.STARTERS graduates! 🥳

These entrepreneurs join 87 other Livingston County business owners who have completed this training, better preparing them to evaluate venture potential and equipping them with the resources needed to succeed. 🎓

Are you interested in starting or growing a business? Our fall class will run Wednesday mornings, Sept. 9th - Nov. 11th. Check back soon for details and to register!

06/23/2026

Do you need an open flag? The more of these flying in Visit Livingston County, NY, the better! Very high quality canvas flags with pole and holder included. Your contribution is only $25. Call 585-243-7124 or email [email protected] to order. Share this post with your neighboring businesses!

05/20/2026

Exciting news for Livingston County! 🎉

Grow LivCo is thrilled to partner with Barilla America as they expand their manufacturing operations right here in Avon, NY! 🍝

This major investment strengthens our local economy, creates high-quality jobs, and reinforces LivCo’s reputation as a premier hub for food processing and agriculture. We are proud to support Barilla’s continued growth and commitment to our community 🫶🏼

Livingston County Industrial Development Agency Director William Bacon said, “Livingston County is incredibly proud to support Barilla’s continued growth and deep commitment to the Town of Avon. This monumental investment not only reinforces our position as a leader in agribusiness and advanced manufacturing, but it also creates nearly 100 high-quality jobs for our local workforce. Barilla has been an exceptional community partner since 2007, and this expansion ensures that our region will remain a vital hub for global food manufacturing for decades to come.”

Read more about this exciting development and what it means for our region!

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-nearly-170-million-two-phase-expansion-barillas-livingston-county

05/08/2026

Day 5 of National Tourism & Economic Development Week! We’re wrapping up our staff highlights by recognizing another member of our LivCo team who helps move our community forward every day.

Financing the Future
Meet Bill Waterhouse & Maureen Wheeler

Bill is our Senior Economic Development Specialist & Maureen our Deputy Director. Growth requires both a plan and the math to back it up. Bill and Maureen spend their days turning “good ideas” into sustainable local jobs through day-to-day structuring, financing and incentives, facilitating entrepreneurship classes, and reducing high barriers to entry for local startups.

Their impact can be seen in success stories like Brew in Livingston, which helped create the Libation Loop which has been recognized as the 2025 NYSTIA Excellence Award winner for Trails & Itineraries. Also keep an eye for the 250th celebration’s Revolutionary Pours 🍻

“Providing financing and incentives to businesses is essential to our residents’ quality of life and tourist attraction.” — Bill W.

“That moment in an entrepreneurship class when a student becomes a business owner and the math suddenly clicks.. that’s the reward.” — Maureen

Visit https://www.growlivco.com/culture to learn more!