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Governor
Cuomo Announces $800,000 in Smart Growth Grants
for
Adirondack Park and Catskill Park Communities
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Grants Support
Economic Development, Tourism,
Infrastructure
Enhancements and Community Revitalization
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Albany,
NY – January 2017 / Newsmaker Alert / Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has
announced the availability of $800,000 in Environmental Protection Fund
smart growth grants for Adirondack Park and Catskill Park
communities and organizations. Organizations are encouraged to apply for
grant funding for projects that support economic development, infrastructure
enhancements and other initiatives to bolster the regions communities and
organizations.
“The
Adirondack and Catskill parks are home to unparalleled natural beauty,
as well as unique challenges for the communities located within them,”
Governor Cuomo said. “This funding will help these communities and local
organizations develop and execute smart growth strategies to help them
build on their strengths, and increase tourism and economic activity within
their borders.”
Unlike
other parks, the Adirondack and Catskill parks are composed of public parklands
and private property and are home to thousands of residents and dozens
of communities.
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Department
of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Under Governor
Andrew Cuomo’s leadership, these grants will help realize key projects,
actions, and strategies identified in plans developed by Adirondack and
Catskill park communities in pursuit of smart growth. DEC’s Smart Growth
Implementation Grants Program is modeled after the national ‘smart growth’
movement and promotes growth that recognizes the link between economic
development and protecting the natural and built environment.”
The
funding includes $545,000 for the larger Adirondack Park and $260,000 to
the Catskill Park. The grants will be focused on smart growth implementation
projects that can include capital improvements, environmentally sound economic
development, and organizational capacity-building to advance key projects.
Focuses of the program include: enhancement of the tourism economy and
related infrastructure; growth and revitalization within hamlets, villages,
and town centers; and projects featuring park-wide and regional collaboration.
The
two separate official Requests for Application are available through the
NYS Grants Gateway. The Department of Environmental Conservation is also
sending the RFA to more than 130 units of local governments and non-profit
organizations in the parks. The Department of Environmental Conservation
will again partner with the Department of State and the Adirondack Park
Agency to carry out the program, building on the success of previous rounds
of funding that focused on planning and implementation projects.
The
deadline for both applications is 2:00 p.m. on March 31, 2017. The Department
of Environmental Conservation anticipates announcing grant awards in June
2017.
The
Adirondack
Park is America’s largest state park and one of its oldest state parks.
Under Governor Cuomo, New York State’s commitment to the park has never
been stronger. The Department of Environmental Conservation is working
with local officials and other stakeholders to improve the park’s economy
and quality of life. Unlike traditional parks, the Adirondack Park is composed
of about 50 percent private lands. It is home to 130,000 permanent residents,
more than 115 municipal governments, and dozens of hamlets that define
its character and culture. The Adirondack Park grants seek to capitalize
on the collaborative efforts of communities and organizations in the park.
Cooperation among Adirondack residents and regional organizations in the
Common Ground Alliance and the Adirondack Partnership has created consensus
around regional priorities. This is the fifth round of grants overall,
and the third round of implementation grants in the Park.
The
Catskill
Park was created in the early 20th Century and also home to a portion
of the New York City Reservoir system that delivers water to millions of
New Yorkers daily. The Catskill Park is known as a superb tourist and outdoor
recreational destination with picturesque hamlets. The Catskill Park Smart
Growth Implementation Grants provide support for projects that empower
Catskill communities to capitalize on their unique natural setting to improve
community livability and economic vitality. Communities and local non-profit
organizations are well-positioned to implement regional priorities such
as rail trail development, tourism accommodation, and renewal of historic
hamlets consistent with protecting the environment and enhancing recreational
access. This is the fourth round of implementation grants in the Catskill
Park.
Applicant
instructions and resources are available on the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/lands/103864.html.
Media
Contact:
Press
Office
518-474-8418
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov |