Huntington Clinic Wins $20K for a Wheelchair Ramp
At 165 East Main St. in Huntington, the next big change for Balance Mental Health Counseling is a ramp. Tanairy Fernandez, the owner, did not expect a visit from Optimum Business and the Long Island Association Foundation on Sept. 22. They showed up with news that her practice had won one of two $20,000 grand prizes in the third annual L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant Program. Fernandez said the moment left her stunned. The money will help build a wheelchair-accessible entrance, which Optimum Business said is one of the last major steps needed for the building to meet ADA accessibility goals.
The ramp is not just a construction project. It could change who can enter the office. Fernandez said the practice wants to serve more people who use wheelchairs or have trouble getting in and out. The goal is simple: remove a physical barrier to mental health care. Stacey Sikes, acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association, said the selection looked at community impact and plans to grow. She said Balance serves more than 200 community members, from children to adults.
L.O.C.A.L. stands for Lifting Our Community Businesses Across Long Island. Optimum Business and the LIA Foundation created it in 2024 to support small businesses in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Since it began, the program has given nearly $750,000 to more than 130 Long Island businesses, including this newest group of winners. Andrew Rainone, senior vice president of national business sales at Optimum, said the grants are meant to give owners room to decide what matters most. That could mean expanding, reaching more customers, buying equipment, or opening new local opportunities.
Balance Mental Health Counseling is a minority-owned, woman-owned practice. It offers individual, family, and group counseling for children, teens, and adults. Its focus includes anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, and support for women dealing with depression or anxiety during pregnancy and after birth. It was one of two Long Island businesses chosen for $20,000 this year. Earlier Tuesday, the Barber & Beauty Institute of New York in Hempstead received the other grand prize.
Balance will also get a $5,000 television advertising campaign from Optimum Media. Fernandez hopes that support will help more people hear about mental health services. She wants the message to reach the Hispanic community, especially women facing mental health challenges during pregnancy or after childbirth. She also wants more people to know that help is available for anxiety, phobias, and OCD.