Times Union: Altamont Winery elevates production with new equipment

DiCrescenzo said he tried for years to get a grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but was 'shot down half a dozen times trying.'

The business hadn't received a loan since it opened, until applying for Pioneer's Express Small Business Lending program, which allocated less than $40,000 to purchase the new grape press and pump. To receive the loan, Altamont Vineyard and Winery had to come up with 10% of the money upfront, paying 7.5% interest. DiCrescenzo said the loan was better than expected, as Pioneer offered to finance 90% of the loan while the grants he had previously applied for were 50/50 matches."