09 Jul Agriculture Producers Revitalization Microenterprise Grant Funded
Essex County Industrial Development Agency Awarded $125,000 For Agriculture Producers Revitalization Microenterprise Grant
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced more than $5.4 million in awards of Smart Growth Grants to 48 communities and organizations in the Catskill and Adirondack Park. The Essex County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) in partnership with Essex County was awarded $125,000 for the implementation of the Essex County Agriculture Producers Revitalization Microenterprise Grant Program. An official launch of the program will take place during the summer of 2024 when information on the guidelines and process will be released. Public meetings dates will be scheduled for early fall and the grant application will open later in the fall.
“Smart Growth grants represent a vital investment in our communities, fostering sustainable development, economic prosperity, and enhanced quality of life for all New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “With these grants, we are empowering local leaders to implement forward thinking solutions that address pressing challenges while laying the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future. My administration’s focus on the housing crisis is central to this round of grant awards with funding being directed to local code revisions and project pre development costs for affordable housing.”
This new agriculture microenterprise grant program will assist agriculture producers to help them become more environmentally resilient and economically viable through sustainable growth. The grant can be used to assist with environmental management resources that can reduce environmental threats through implementation of adaptive environmental changes which will not only protect the environment but also improve their economic viability to become more sustainable. The program will encourage economic growth by providing an additional source of capital for the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment, marketing, working capital, inventory, and operating expenses. An entrepreneurial training component will also be part of the program and application process.
Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “Local government partners are central to the success of DEC’s Adirondack and Catskill Park preservation efforts, and by investing directly in park communities, Governor Hochul is showing how natural resource protection and economic development can be balanced. Empowering municipalities to innovate, collaborate, and focus on long-term resilience is an essential compliment to the state’s aggressive protection efforts and helps to create lasting partnerships and the park communities of the future.”
“Essex County’s agricultural entrepreneurial community is probably the most vibrant sector of our economy. They provide an expansive draw for tourism and recreation and offer a fantastic cornucopia of locally grown foods for our residents, markets, and restaurants, maintaining a vital defense against the proliferation of food deserts in our communities. This exciting grant opportunity will offer vitally needed access to capital specifically targeted for small agriculturally based enterprises to ensure the continued vitality and growth for agriculture in Essex County.” said Essex County Board of Supervisor’s Chairman Shaun Gillilland.
“The IDA is grateful to receive this funding to implement a Microenterprise Grant Program (MPG) to work with the agriculture producers located in Essex County. The IDA will work in partnership with the Essex County Soil and Water Conservation District, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Development Center to implement this new initiative. We are thankful for the support and coordination of these strong partners. We will begin outreach over the summer to familiarize the community about the grant program and hold public meetings. The grant application will be open in late fall of this year after harvest,” stated Carol Calabrese, Co-Executive Director of the ECIDA.
A detailed guidebook for the Essex County Agriculture Producers Revitalization Microenterprise Grant Program will also be available this summer, which will outline program eligibility, eligible uses of funds, ineligible uses of funds, and the application process. It will also include information on the public meetings, the required entrepreneurial training component, and resources that will be available during the application process.
“We are honored to continue our strong partnership with the ECIDA to further support the business community. Throughout the summer and fall of 2023, TACC proactively connected with partner agencies in hopes to establish a possible funding opportunity for agricultural businesses who were severely impacted by last year’s weather. The team at the ECIDA once again agreed to step-up to support a great need within the business community. In coordination with Essex County, TACC and other partner agencies, the ECIDA agreed to coordinate and submit this Smart Growth Grant application. We are so thankful for the constant collaboration of the ECIDA, and their unwavering commitment to our economic vitality. We will be working closely with them to launch this new grant program and will be directly reaching out to agricultural businesses throughout the area when more information is available. We will also work closely with them and the SBDC to offer business support and assistance during the application process,” shared Matthew Courtright -TACC President & CEO.
“We congratulate the Essex County IDA on their Smart Growth Grant award and appreciate their recognition of the importance of agriculture in the region. The District looks forward to working with the IDA to help Essex County farms maintain economic viability as they balance production and land stewardship.” Alice Halloran, District Manager Essex County SWCD.
“Cornell Cooperative Extension is excited for Essex County farmers to have a new source of funding for critical farm improvements and operational expenses. This Smart Growth funding supports both economic viability for farms and environmental management that is compatible with farmland protection and open space principles. We are especially excited to leverage our partnerships with the participating agencies – together we can strengthen all farms and grow healthy local food for all.” Stated Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director Cornell Cooperative Extension Essex County.
This project has been funded in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Adirondack Park Community Smart Growth Program through appropriations from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.
For more information on the Essex County Agriculture Producers Revitalization Microenterprise Grant Program, contact the Essex County Industrial Development Agency at 518-873-9114 or visit www.essexcountvida.com.
Essex County Industrial Development Agency – The mission of the Essex County Industrial Development Agency is to create a viable business atmosphere that will attract compatible and diverse sustainable economic development opportunities while focusing on major assets, retention and expansion projects, quality of life and job creation. The EC/DA offers several financing options to businesses such as loan and bond financing, other economic development incentives and also owns and manages several business/commerce parks throughout the County.