Economic Development

Wayne County KickStart Pitch Competition 

Get ready for an exhilarating evening of entrepreneurial spirit at the Wayne Economic Development Corporation's (WEDC) fifth annual Kick Start Wayne County Pitch Competition! This live event, taking place November 15th, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Newark Campus, promises to showcase the innovation and ambition of aspiring business owners in Wayne County. Join us in witnessing these entrepreneurs transform their groundbreaking ideas into reality and kick start their ventures. We will also be announcing the student winners during this event. The event is free and open to the public—your chance to be inspired by the next wave of local businesses. 

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 For more details regarding the event location, please see the attached document.

Wayne County New York Bicentennial 1823-20232023 Small Business Week Recognition

National Small Business Week occurs during the first week of May each year. This year, in honor of Wayne County's Bicentennial Celebration, we are celebrating the History of Business in Wayne County. Congratulations to the 28 business who were nominated this year, especially those with historic longevity, Murphy Funeral & Cremation Chapels, LLC (est  1882); The Original Candy Kitchen (est. 1890); Hallagan Furniture (est. 1899); Youngman Orchards Farm Market (est. 1922); Secor Lumber (est. 1939); and Williamson Hardware (est. 1940).   See full list here.  

Wayne County Economic Development Programs

We can help you start or grow your business through a focused approached, loan or grant opportunities and business mentorship partners. Don't wait to explore your business ideas. Contact us today for more information. 

The Wayne County Economic Development office is combined with the Wayne County Planning office. We focus on helping local companies to successfully achieve the benefits of business development and strategic planning. Our team promotes and delivers financial incentives that fit the needs of our local business community. From agricultural and industrial development to kick-starting small businesses, we are the premier resource for all business development in Wayne County, New York.

Our Economic Development department delivers an array of business loans and state grant funding to qualified recipients. We also manage the county's Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Wayne Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), and the Civic Facilities Development Corporation (CFDC) all of which offer specialized and in-depth financial assistance to industrial large-scale companies, small to mid-size business, or non-profit civic facility ventures.  In addition, our Department promotes local business and industrial parks that are prime locations for new business development.

Check out great County Careers with Edge Factor 

The Edge Factor is a program that showcases videos from a variety of careers offered in multiple industries throughout Wayne County. Click on the below graphic to review some of these videos and contact us for more information on how to pursue that career. 

Click on image below for information on Careers in Wayne County.

Wayne County Careers 2022

Kickstart a New Business with Microburst Grant

There are a variety of programs currently available for new and existing small businesses. One such program for NEW BUSINESS is the Microburst Grant Program. Click on graphic for more information. 

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Vision

Our vision is a balanced local economy through attraction, retention, and growth of businesses, focusing our efforts on our targeted business sectors, providing the opportunity for symbiotic growth of our businesses and successful careers for our residents.

Agency Information

Click on image below for Wayne County Economic Overview

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