Elk Life LLC in Benezette is expanding, thanks in part to the recent awarding of a low-interest loan.

Elk Life apparel of Benezette is owned by Doug and Sylvia Ruffo. The couple owns businesses including Benezette Wines and Benezette Coffee Co., too.

The loan was one of four recently approved through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA), according to a recent press release from the office of Gov. Tom Wolf.

Elk Life LLC was approved for a $150,000 loan to purchase a 1,600-square-foot building on 1.05 acres in Benezette. The property is the site of the former Old Bull Cafe.

The award was made through the North Central PA Regional Planning & Development Commission in Ridgway. The loan is a 15-year reset rate loan with 0.75% interest.

They moved Elk Life apparel into its new location Aug. 1, said Doug Ruffo. The apparel was previously sold at the Benezette Wines shop.

“Elk Life was created in 2018 when we trademarked the brand with the US Patent Office,” said Ruffo, who described what is happening at the business. “We currently sell our Elk Life items, which includes apparel and other licensed merchandise including Zippo Lighters with the Elk Life name.

“In addition we moved our Benezette Coffee Company products to the new location,” he continued. “We offer great coffee and numerous specialty coffee choices. While we do not have a dining room, we do offer some popular carry out food items and our freshly made mini donuts.”

The couple started Benezette Wines in 2012. They continue running the shop at the same location with the help of family.

“Currently, the wine shop does business in our original location and my daughter Kristi Blythe and her husband Eric work full time managing the Elk Life location,” Ruffo explained.

Jennifer Hibbard, loan program director for North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning & Development Commission, worked with the Ruffos during the loan process.

Hibbard said North Central began working with them in July.

“The owners, Doug & Sylvia Ruffo, reached out to us when they found that the PIDA loan program was an available resource for low-interest financing through a conversation about their project with the PIDA Director, Jared Lucas, who happened to be visiting Benezette,” she said.

“North Central is designated as a Certified Economic Development Organization through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Economic & Community Development (DCED) to package and underwrite loan applications to PIDA on behalf of eligible businesses located in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter Counties,” Hibbard added.

According to Hibbard, Elk Life’s offerings make it uniquely able to reaffirm the Benezette area as a tourist spot. She believes the company has a bright future.

“The Ruffos vision to expand Elk Life certainly enhances the unique economic ecosystem that exists in Benezette which thrives on the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit this area every year to view the free-roaming elk herd,” she said.

“I believe they will find success that goes beyond their products and menu items that they offer; their business will become a destination in itself that will complete the elk viewing experience for tourists,” Hibbard continued. “It is exciting to see how PIDA’s investment in this project supports their efforts as they take their business to a new level but also recognizes how tourism is an important economic driver in our rural economy.”

The press release from Wolf’s office expanded on the benefits the business can have on the local economy.

“The building is 0.3 miles from Benezette Wines and within proximity to the Elk Country Visitor Center,” the release stated. “The new location offers the company higher visibility to the large volume of tourists who visit this popular area in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The total project cost is $301,439 and Elk Life, LLC will retain three full-time employees as a result of this project.

The other three loans went to businesses in Lancaster and Northumberland counties.

“No matter the challenging circumstances our commonwealth is facing, we continue to make strategic investments in businesses and projects across Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Wolf. “These projects will benefit both businesses and their surrounding communities by creating jobs, supporting businesses, and making Pennsylvania a better place to live and work every day.”