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DEC
Announces $750,000 Grants to Support Eco-Tourism in
Upper
Hudson Recreation Hub Area of Central Adirondacks
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Grants for
Municipalities, Small Businesses and Organizations will
Support Recreation
and Tourism Projects Linked to Conservation Lands
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Albany,
NY – December 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / Adirondack
Park Upper Hudson Rec Hub Eco-Tourism Support Grants are available for
municipalities, New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced
Tuesday (December 6). DEC partnered with National Heritage Trust (NHT)
and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to deliver competitive grant funding to
support new tourism linked to the high quality recreational opportunities
now available in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Park. In addition,
a companion microenterprise program will soon be available for recreation/tourism-based
projects connected with former Finch, Pruyn & Company lands for a total
of $750,000 in funding, provided by a grant from TNC.
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“The
communities of the Upper Hudson Rec Hub are working to capitalize on their
eco-tourism potential,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “Under the
leadership of Governor Cuomo, and in partnership with TNC and NHT, these
grants and the micro-enterprise grant program, will step up the quality
of tourism services and are expected to address the critical need for new
and expanding lodging offerings for visitors drawn to the area.”
“We
are pleased to work with Governor Cuomo and our partners at DEC and NHT
to promote conservation and outdoor recreation while boosting local economies
in the Adirondacks. We look forward to providing additional funding, which
will advance recreation-based development and community prosperity. Investing
in nature is an investment in New York’s future, and we applaud the Governor
and Commissioner Seggos for their historic environmental leadership in
the Adirondacks and throughout New York State,” said Stu Gruskin, Chief
Conservation and External Affairs Officer, The Nature Conservancy in New
York.
Today,
DEC announces a Request For Applications (RFA) inviting municipalities
to apply to the New York Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) for a portion of
the funding. This RFA covers approximately $250,000 to be awarded early
in 2017, for municipal projects implementing economic strategies and developing
physical assets to bolster the recreation and tourism economy. This RFA
is restricted to the Upper Hudson Rec Hub communities of Indian Lake, Long
Lake, Minerva, Newcomb, and North Hudson. Grants may range up to $125,000
and do not require the applicant to provide matching funds.
The
larger portion of grant funding provided by TNC will be made available
to for-profit small businesses and not-for-profit organizations via a separate
competitive microenterprise grant program (MGP). The MGP will be delivered
by the Essex County Industrial Development Agency and will fund business
development and training as well as non-profit projects advancing the recreation
and tourism-related objectives of the RFA. The micro-enterprise application
window will open in early 2017, making available the balance of approximately
$500,000. A public information meeting for potential applicants will be
held Thursday, January 19, 2017. An additional eligibility requirement
applies to any entity located outside the five Upper Hudson Rec Hub communities;
a linkage demonstrating real impact on economic activity within these communities
most closely tied to the former Finch / TNC lands.
Earlier
this year, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the completion of the state’s
largest Adirondack land acquisition in more than 100 years. The Boreas
Ponds Tract was the final acquisition in a series of land purchases the
state completed under a 2012 agreement with The Nature Conservancy to conserve
land previously owned primarily by the former Finch, Pruyn & Company
paper company. These purchases, coupled with previous conservation transactions,
protect 161,000 acres in all; featuring 415 miles of rivers and streams,
300 lakes and ponds, 90 mountains and 16,000 acres of wetlands. These lands
touch six counties and 27 towns in the Adirondacks, with more than 80%
of the property in the five towns that form the Upper Hudson Recreation
Hub.
Through
this project, the public has gained recreational access for the first time
in more than 100 years to places like OK Slip Falls, Essex Chain Lakes,
Boreas Ponds, Sugarloaf Cliffs and other locations. The conservation easement
lands in this project also offer new public recreational access opportunities,
including fishing access to the Branch River in North Hudson.
A prior
round of grant funding of $500,000 provided by TNC and administered by
DEC and NHT also supported municipal and microenterprise projects related
to recreational tourism within and proximate to the Upper Hudson Rec Hub.
The initial round of funding was awarded in November 2014 and supported
the following projects now completed or substantially complete:
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Town of
Newcomb - development of equestrian accommodations serving Great Camp Santanoni;
horse stables available to the public @ High Peaks Kitchen & Campground
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Town of
Newcomb - purchase of equipment to be used by local guide service; Newcomb
Guide Service established in 2015
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Town of
Johnsburg - purchase of inflatable kayaks for Upper Hudson trips; now offered
by North Creek Rafting Co.
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Town of
Minerva - town-operated campground improvements
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Town of
Indian Lake - Town-wide Comprehensive Plan incorporating downtown development
and recreation-related economic development
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Town of
Newcomb - marketing materials and advertising
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Microenterprise
Program - Essex County IDA; grants supported equipment, inventory, training,
appliances, and marketing for new and expanding small businesses that collectively
employ more than 60 workers, including:
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Hoot Owl
Lodge, Newcomb
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Sunoco
Gas Station & Convenience Store, North Hudson
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Adirondack
Growl & Grub, Long Lake
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Motel
Long Lake & Cottages, Long Lake
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Raquette
River Outfitters, Long Lake
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Square
Eddy Expeditions, North Creek and Indian Lake
“We strongly
support the Governor’s vision, that the former Finch lands should provide
a broad range of recreational access that contributes to the local economy,”
said Bill Farber, Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors.
“This total contribution of $750,000 from TNC supports local communities
that are working together to attract investment and tourism to the Upper
Hudson Rec Hub.”
Program
details are available online at the Adirondack
Park Upper Hudson Recreation Hub Grants web page on DEC’s website.
Applications for the municipal projects RFA are due Friday, January 27,
2017, and awards are expected to be made in March 2017. The private sector
micro-enterprise grant program application window is expected to open in
January 2017.
The
RFA announced supports municipal projects such as infrastructure that supports
eco-tourism business or provides recreational opportunities, hut-to-hut
hiking accommodations, trailhead or town center parking, connector trails
and multiple use trails, waterway access sites, bike lanes and off-road
paths, seasonal shuttle service for recreation, visitor orientation including
traditional signage and new technology, and durable recreation equipment.
A separate
announcement will be made by the Essex County IDA announcing availability
of the micro-enterprise grant program (MGP). The MGP will be established
to provide grants to eligible expanding or start-up microenterprise businesses
providing tourist accommodations and other eco-tourism related services
in the Upper Hudson Rec Hub. The MGP will also support non-profit initiatives
(services or programming) that complement and attract increased eco-tourism.
The MGP will support establishments in town centers and businesses that
cater to visitors such as restaurants, lodging, shops, gear and guides.
As qualified businesses and non-profits are identified through an application
process, the program will provide resolution to small businesses’ lack
of access to capital and assist businesses and non-profits to offer a more
relevant mix of wares, goods and services to help improve the viability
of the businesses and retain and create new jobs.
Contact:
NYS-DEC
Office
of Communication Services
Jomo
Miller
518-402-8000
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