ADIRONDACK COUNCIL
URGES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND
NOT-FOR-PROFITS TO APPLY FOR STATE QUALITY
COMMUNITIES PLANNING ASSISTANCE FUNDING
Park Municipalities Eligible for Grants to Cover Majority
of Project Costs
For more information:
John F. Sheehan
518-432-1770 (ofc)
518-441-1340 (cell)
518-456-4512 (home)
Released, Friday, October 7, 2005
ALBANY, NY - The Adirondack Council
today encouraged local officials and other community not-for-profit
agencies to apply for specially designated local planning money
set aside by the state to assist with downtown revitalization
and environmental protection.
"We worked very hard to get $3 million set aside in this
year's State Budget for local planning," said Adirondack
Council Executive Director Brian L. Houseal. "We worked
even harder to ensure that the 'mountain communities of the Adirondack
and Catskill parks' were given priority funding status. Programs
in those two areas will be given preference over other areas
of the state. We believe that every community in the Adirondack
Park could benefit from sound land-use planning and community
beautification programs. Now that help is available, local leaders
should take advantage of this opportunity. Then, we can illustrate
the considerable need for these funds and request increases in
next year's budget.
"The Park's residents deserve the ability to undertake planning
that considers the long-term benefits of enhancing their community
centers while also preserving open space," continued Houseal.
"Only 13 of the Adirondack Park's towns and villages have
done this on their own. Too many have not. Often, the financial
burden is cited as the main reason for not taking action. With
this new source of funds, no locality should be hindered by cost.
"The fastest and least expensive method for preserving the
Adirondack Park's natural resources requires the Park's local
governments to act as partners with the state's regulatory agencies,"
Houseal explained. "It's time for the Park's communities
to step up and seize control of their own destiny. These grants
can make that possible."
The Quality Communities Task Force was created in 2000 by Executive
Order 102 and was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Mary O. Donohue.
As part of the fiscal year 2005-06 State budget, $3 million was
earmarked in the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to help
fund local planning projects through the Quality Communities
Program. This was the first time such money had been dedicated
in the EPF and was part of the $25 million expansion of the fund
agreed upon by the Governor and Legislature.
Priority or additional consideration will also be given for projects
in economically distressed areas that meet unemployment or income
criteria, as well as those that provide natural resource and
open space protection of statewide significance. Up to 80 percent
of the costs associated with a project could be paid for through
the grant, with the applicant covering the remainder.
"Since the Adirondack Council does not accept public funding
of any kind, we can not apply ourselves," continued Houseal.
"But we do believe that it is important that as much of
this funding as possible go the counties, town, villages and
qualifying not-for-profit corporations that serve the residents
of the Adirondack Park."
The application deadline has been extended to December 5, 2005.
The 11-page application, along with other related forms are now
available at www.qualitycommunities.org.
Further information is also available by calling (518) 473-3355
or by emailing QC@dos.state.ny.us.
Several Adirondack villages have taken advantage of Quality Communities
grants in the past. In September, Lieutenant Governor Donohue
awarded $1 million statewide, including $35,000 to the Village
of Lake Placid, $40,000 to the Village of Saranac Lake and $22,000
to the Village of Tupper Lake.
The Adirondack Council's mission is to ensure the ecological
integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. Founded
in 1975, the Council is a privately funded not-for-profit organization
with 18,000 members. The Council carries out its missions through
research, education, advocacy and legal action.
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