(Latham, N.Y.) Five finalists have been named for the 2014 Sunmark Business Grant, a contest for first-time business owners and entrepreneurs who are headquartered or do business within Sunmark’s six-county footprint (Albany, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie).

Jerzey’s Dog Resort is a family-friendly boarding and dog day care facility located on Route 9 between Latham and Cohoes that will also provide a home for shelter dogs for potential adopters.

The New York Mercantile Company is a start-up retail store that offers gourmet food, craft beer and wine, house wares, gifts, fine art and other items made exclusively in New York State, located in downtown Albany.

Raya’s Cultured Café is a collection of fermented, probiotic-rich products including Kombucha (cultured tea) and kraut (cultured vegetables) that are produced from organic and/or locally sourced products that will bring traditional healing foods into Capital Region markets.

Scofield Access Solutions is a professional services company that specializes in the assessment, sales, installation and servicing of residential and commercial elevators, wheelchair lists and stairway chairlifts that enable people to maintain their independence and self-sufficiency.

Skit & Kaboodle is an enrichment program for children (ages 2 -10) and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other social disabilities that uses drama methods to help kids learn about social interactions, problem solving, literacy and team building. (Colonie)

Eligible applicants included businesses that opened after November 1, 2013 or plan to open before June 1, 2015 and entrepreneurs who have a plan but haven’t established a business yet.

The finalists will deliver a 15-20 minute presentation to a panel of judges.  The winner will be announced in December.

The winning business or business idea will receive $1,000 in a Sunmark business account and the runner up will receive $500 in a Sunmark business account.

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About Sunmark Federal Credit Union:

Since 1937, Sunmark Federal Credit Union ($430 million in assets; 48,000+ members) has been helping members in the greater Capital Region community improve their financial position by offering a full range of mortgages, insurance products, retirement accounts and of course, savings and checking. Sunmark is committed to the financial health and well-being of each member by offering tools that educate and inform and products and services that make it easier to reach financial goals such as planning a budget, saving for a home, repairing  credit or getting out of debt.

For more information, call 518-382-0605 or visit www.sunmarkfcu.org.