The results are in from a competitive grant program in New York State that focuses on regional economic development. Among the statewide recipients of $761 million in grants are several local town and village governments, arts and cultural organizations, and programs in historic preservation and land conservation.
“These economic development grants represent a major commitment by the State of New York to take the lead in creating jobs and improving the economy,” Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. said in a statement. “I am pleased that Long Island was chosen for such substantial funding and that the businesses and communities in my district will benefit greatly.”
Sag Harbor Village received a $1.5 million grant to offset the cost of a major overhaul of Long Wharf. According to Mayor Kathleen Mulcahy, the grant will reduce the village’s $4 million debt on the renovations by 25 percent, and will help the village accomplish some improvements that were not in the original scope of the project. These include electrical upgrades for both big and small boats, which will no longer have to run generators or encounter outages.
“It is the best Christmas present we could have gotten in Sag Harbor,” Ms. Mulcahy said this week. “We are so grateful to the governor, and most particularly to Fred Thiele. We’re pretty sure he was our secret angel. It means so much to the village and the whole area, because the wharf is a centerpiece of the bay side of the Hamptons.”
The Peconic Land Trust received two grants, one for $3.66 million to support a land acquisition program that will help protect the region’s aquifer, and another for $200,000 for an aquaculture program in East Moriches.
The Montauk Historical Association received two separate grants, both slated to pay for restorations to the Montauk Lighthouse. The association will receive $438,500 from the state.
The Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack received $47,000. Alejandro Saralegui, its executive director, called it “major” and “exciting.” It will help Madoo create handicapped-accessible walkways, entrances, and parking, and upgrade its bathrooms. “New York State is recognizing Madoo as an important place that deserves preservation and enhancement,” Mr. Saralegui said. “We’ve really just moved into looking for grants in the past year and a half. This early on, to be getting a grant from the state is really wonderful.” He thanked Diana Cherryholmes, who chairs the Suffolk County Film Commission, for her help in pitching Madoo to the state’s economic development council.
The Amagansett Food Institute will benefit from a $300,000 award to support the East End Food Hub. The Southampton Arts Center received $69,000 for its summer programming, and the Parrish Art Museum got $60,000 for personnel-related expenses. The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center received a $500,000 grant to expand its educational programs.
Shelter Island Town was also on the state’s list of grant recipients. The town received $30,000 for a study of Fresh Pond and $30,000 for another study exploring wastewater treatment on the island.
Southampton Town received $300,000 toward the rehabilitation of the Shinnecock commercial fishing dock, and $50,000 for a wastewater systems study for Hampton Bays. Southampton Village’s Lake Agawam, known as a distressed water body, will benefit from more than $200,000 in state money.
--
Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly named the Southampton Cultural Center as the recipient of a grant for summer programming; the Southampton Arts Center was the recipient of that money.
