Programs

Workshops

“Best Practices for Finding and Preparing Grants”

CKIC partnered with the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and Hamilton College to host a free grant writing seminar on January 20, 2026. About 65 representatives from dozens of local organizations heard presentations on the following topics:

Getting Started: Conceptualizing a project, organizing yourself, and preparing your grant application (Office of Planning, Development & Community NY Department of State)
What is the CFA, how does it work, and navigating the CFA portal (Empire State Development Mohawk Valley Region)
Resources for finding and preparing for grants, rebates, incentives, and other opportunities (Mohawk Valley Economic Development District)
Grants: Strategies, not Solutions (UpMobility Foundation, Inc., Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties)
Working with a consultant to find and write successful grants (LCF Grant Consulting)

This is the second grant workshop hosted by CKIC, the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, and Hamilton College. We’re grateful for the partnership of the state agencies and local experts who made presentations.

Thank you major partners.

Business Support

“Shop Clinton During its Remodeling” Campaign

CKIC raffled off five $25 Clinton Chamber of Commerce gift certificates for six consecutive weeks during the NYS Department of Transportation road reconstruction project. The goal was to encourage shopping at local businesses during the summer of 2025 when Route 12B, (especially at the intersection of College Street and Franklin Avenue) was torn up and traffic was re-routed.

Approximately 750 raffle tickets were entered for one of the six weekly drawings. The final drawing was held during the Art & Music Festival and included a special $500 cash prize, which was won by a Paris, N.Y., resident who made a purchase at So Sweet Candy Shoppe on College Street.

Community Initiatives

Community Conversations

CKIC hosted seven community conversations during late summer and fall 2025 and asked participants:

What are our community’s greatest strengths?
What changes would you recommend (i.e., what are the community’s gaps and weaknesses and what improvements would you suggest)?
What is currently working but could work better?

Conversations were held at the following locations:

Senior Center in Clark Mills
The Kirkland Town Library
Fire Station Number 2 in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours
Student government leaders at Hamilton College and Clinton Senior High School
Clinton PTA
Surveys collected during the Farmers’ Market and at the Art & Music Festival. Well over 125 people offered input.

Feedback was collected and summarized (click here for notes) for future planning and to help shape CKIC’s 2025 Strategic Plan.

CKIC also hosted several Community Leaders Conversations and invited the Village Mayor, Town Supervisor, Clinton Central Superintendent, Hamilton College President, and Chamber Executive Director.