ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. (September 22, 2021) – Rockland Community College has been selected as a 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award winner from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the nation’s oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This national honor recognizes US colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. RCC will be featured, along with 100 other recipients, in the November 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the first time RCC has been named as a HEED Award recipient.
“Diversity reflects an appreciation and respect for the unique gifts and talents in all of us,” said RCC President Dr. Michael A. Baston. “To close equity gaps, community colleges must first offer a safe and welcoming environment. Then we can create strategic partnerships between the college and the community and take advantage of our organizational resources and collaborative leadership to ensure equitable opportunities and outcomes for all our students.”
“Last year RCC started developing an actionable plan by establishing a working group to review the legacy of diversity efforts led by the College’s former Diversity Council and to build on their outcomes to reflect current realities. We are now developing a new college-wide plan that incorporates those recommendations with recommendations from all areas of the College. The new plan will include specific outcomes that are measurable using key performance indicators to be reported on an equity scorecard,” stated Melissa L. Roy, Chief Diversity Officer for RCC.
“The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”
About Rockland Community College, State University of New York
Rockland Community College, State University of New York, offers a safe, supportive learning environment for thousands of students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Thanks to the school’s affordable tuition, students who begin their career journey at RCC and then transfer to a four-year college can save up to $100,000 on their education. RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through its new Career Skills Academy. More information can be found at www.sunyrockland.edu.
Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) is proud to announce the appointments of Christie Foster and Gabriella Madden as his new Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, respectively. A longtime non-profit development lead and communications agency executive, Foster was first hired in 2020 to oversee district operations and constituent services as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the team’s transformation into an all-hands-on-deck hub for virus updates, unemployment assistance, and community support. Madden comes to the team following several years serving with Assemblyman Kevin Cahill’s office (D-Kingston), most recently as Cahill’s top staffer, overseeing operations in both the district and Albany offices.
“I am thrilled to continue building on the exceptional work Christie and I have accomplished on behalf of our Senate district in recent years, and to welcome Gabriella, a dedicated public servant, to our senior team,” said Senator Skoufis. “Both colleagues are deeply committed to recognizing and responding to the needs of local communities and I look forward to collaborating with them to advance district priorities each and every day.”
“In my time as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Operations for this office, I became intimately familiar with the issues facing our neighbors and the local, county, and state resources available to efficiently address their concerns,” said Foster. “As a public servant, it’s my job to act in the best interests of the public at all times. And as someone deeply committed to improving women’s health, reproductive healthcare, and supporting survivors of domestic and sexual assault, it’s an honor to work alongside Senator Skoufis at this pivotal moment.”
“It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I take on the role of Deputy Chief of Staff,” said Madden. “I am well-prepared to bring Hudson Valley values to Albany, and to continue my service to our community under the leadership of Senator Skoufis.”
Foster and Madden will share their time between Skoufis’ district office in Newburgh, North Rockland office in Garnerville, and Albany office, overseeing a staff of ten other colleagues who handle constituent services, community engagement, investigations, communications, and policy.
ABOUT CHIEF OF STAFF CHRISTIE FOSTER
Christie Foster hails from a small hamlet in Chenango County. The daughter of a longtime town clerk and a union plumber, she got an early start in the workforce, washing dishes in a local restaurant and painting sample swatches for Golden Artists Colors throughout high school. Foster went on to major in human development with minors in women’s studies and communication at SUNY Oswego, supporting herself through college as a dance teacher and bar manager.
After landing an internship with ARISE, an organization providing services to people with disabilities, Foster was captivated by human services work and relocated to Newburgh to join Access: Supports for Living as a development and human resources specialist. She led Access through a four-organization merger and rebranding, working in tandem with Manhattan creative agency The Abelson Co. Abselson soon lured Foster away to join their team, quickly promoting her to Vice President of Development & Operations. In this role, she led business growth strategy and served as the primary external relationship manager for a broad portfolio of service-oriented non-profits, interfacing with non-profit boards and leadership across the country.
Foster joined the office of Senator James Skoufis as Director of Operations in early 2020, was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff in the spring of 2021, and now serves as Chief of Staff. She is a former member of the Fearless! Board of Directors and the Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Emerging Leaders Council. Foster lives with her husband and two dogs in a restored 200+ year old dairy barn in Chester, and enjoys beekeeping and reading. She is a lifelong advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as women’s reproductive freedom.
ABOUT DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF GABRIELLA MADDEN
Gabriella (“Gabi”) Madden is a lifelong resident of Ulster County, having grown up in her family’s beloved Kingston restaurant, Savona’s Plaza Pizza. After graduating from Kingston High School, Madden jumpstarted her college vocation at SUNY Ulster Community College, where she interned for the Admissions office as a Digital Media Ambassador and later transferred to Marymount Manhattan College, receiving a bachelor’s degree in communications and minor in journalism.
Having worked through both high school and college in the restaurant scene and as a nanny, she began her professional career in public service by joining the team of New York State Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston) as a communications liaison and constituent representative. In short order, Madden was appointed Clerk for the Assembly Committee on Insurance, which Cahill chairs, and later to the role of Chief of Staff, serving as the member’s primary strategic advisor while overseeing legislative efforts and district operations. Having spent the past few years re-familiarizing herself with communities throughout the 39th Senate District, Madden is well-prepared to hit the ground running with Senator Skoufis’ active and ambitious team.
(SPARKILL, NY – September 21, 2021) – St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) held a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning in front of the newly renovated, two-level Romano Student Alumni Center (RSAC). President Daly was assisted by Rose Werner from Werner Construction in cutting the ribbon while surrounded by STAC students, members of the campus community, and guests who came together to see firsthand the completion of these state-of-the-art renovations.
RSAC’s lower level has been given an “extreme makeover” and transformed into an amazing space for relaxing and dining at the Spartan Grille, reimagining student engagement while catering to student-centric needs. Equipped with new furniture and a fresh look, Spartans have dedicated spaces in each quadrant for gaming, sports-related watch parties, billiards, and a new “Central Perk” coffee lounge area.
The upper level of the RSAC now houses STAC’s brand-new Student Career Services Center, which was opened last month, outfitted with offices, a large common area, conference room, private rooms for interviews, as well as a presentation area. Students visit the Career Center to engage in mock-interviews, internship workshops, and resume writing, while preparing for internship opportunities and future careers. We encourage STAC alumni to visit campus and the Career Center throughout all stages of their careers.
President Ken Daly remarked: “We are excited about the investments we are making on the campus as part of our “Welcome Back to STAC campaign”: in July, we opened a new Admissions Center, and in August, we opened a new Career Services Center. These two projects are symbolic of our “twin pillars” of providing access to education for students at the front end of their college experience and helping them launch their careers at the back end of their time at STAC. The final phase of our Summer construction was completed today as we opened our new Student Center — a home for our students so they feel welcome, engaged, and are able to connect with one another in a fun way in this state-of-the-art location.”
St. Thomas Aquinas College is an independent liberal arts college located on 72 acres in Rockland County, NY, which provides education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College’s approximately 2,000 full and part-time students can choose from more than 100 different majors, minors, specializations, and dual-degree programs across three Schools: Arts & Sciences, Business, and Education. The College is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the Top-Tier for Regional Universities, by Colleges of Distinction in both its New York and Catholic editions, by Affordable Colleges Online as a top College in New York for Return on Investment, and is included as a Military Friendly School®. St. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is a candidate for accreditation by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and its School of Business is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit www.stac.edu.
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM
In response to the economic hardship experienced by small businesses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the County of Rockland is launching the Small Business Relief Grant Program. The goal is to keep businesses open and retain jobs. It is a grant program in response to businesses that are at-risk of closing or laying off employees due to social distancing policies and other orders and policies related to COVID-19. Funding Source: County of Rockland’s HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) Program in the amount of $600,000. Funding Amounts: A maximum of $45,000 per business, based upon need. Minimum request is $5,000. Application Request: Applications will be accepted until grant money is exhausted.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Basic Eligibility: • For-Profit business located within the County of Rockland Jurisdictional Area of the Urban County as listed in the 2019 Action Plan submitted to HUD that has been impacted by the COVID-19 self- isolating period such as restaurants, coffee shops, bars, entertainment and retail. • Applicant is 51% + majority owner of business. • Owner is a qualified low/moderate income household (for businesses with no more than 5 employees), business commits to retain at least one Full Time Job held by a low/moderate income household or business is located in low/moderate income area as determined by the ACS data as provided by HUD. • Owner is 18 years or older. • Owner has a valid Social Security #, EIN & DUNS and Business Bank Account. • Owner is not currently in bankruptcy. • Owner is current with all local, state, and federal taxes, fees, and any other debt payments to the County of Rockland. • Business has active liability and (if required) Workers Compensation Insurance or will acquire within 30 days. • Can provide financial evidence of potential job loss resulting from COVID-19. • Can provide evidence of being able to retain jobs for at least 6 months as a recipient of the grant. • Not have a conflict of interest with the County of Rockland.
Terms: • Maximum Request of $45,000, to be evaluated based upon need. • Minimum Request of $5,000. • Project report provided to the Office of Community Development within 30 days of first drawdown. • Project report provided to the Office of Community Development within 60 days after final drawdown is completed.
Fees: • Application Fee: NONE
PROGRAM SERVICE AREA
Financing under this program is available to eligible for-profit businesses registered and located within the County of Rockland jurisdictional boundaries. The location of the business must be in an area of Rockland County that is a part of the Urban County as listed in the 2019 Action Plan submitted to HUD.
FUNDING SOURCE AND REIMBURSEMENT
The Small Business Relief Grant Program is funded through Community Development Block Grant funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the CARES Act. The funds are known as CDBG-CV. The funds were provided to County of Rockland Office of Community Development and these funds have federal requirements. The federal requirements cannot be waived or otherwise changed by the County of Rockland. Funds will be disbursed by reimbursement to the applicant for documented eligible project expenses or in some carefully reviewed rare and eligible instances, to third party vendors for purchase orders.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
• For-profit businesses with up to twenty-five (25) employees at the time of application submission may apply, subject to restrictions set forth in 24 CFR 570.203 regarding Special Economic Development projects. • Eligible applicants located within the County of Rockland Jurisdictional Area of the Urban County as listed in the 2019 Action Plan submitted to HUD
INELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
An ineligible existing business applicant is one that has a physical business locations or registration outside of the County of Rockland Jurisdictional Area of the Urban County as listed in the 2019 Action Plan submitted to HUD. • Nonprofit organizations are not eligible businesses and will not be considered for funding. • Individual K-12 schools (public or private) • Political Activities, Civic Organizations • Chain restaurants and franchises • Other ineligible businesses include payday grant businesses, liquor and tobacco stores, pawn shops, firearm or other weapons dealers, adult entertainment, passive real estate investments or home-based businesses operating without appropriate zoning and/or permits. • Organizations that discriminate based on race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, or religion.
ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS
The County of Rockland Office of Community Development will review the project scope of work submitted in the applications. Grants are restricted to certain eligible costs, especially those related to basic operating capital for leasing space, insurance and/or utilities and staff salaries. As secondary requests, the County will also consider requests for inventory, supplies, furniture, software, construction costs less than $2,000. All requests must be accompanied by an explanation as to how these purchases are due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Purchasing inventory, supplies, accounting and inventory software, furniture, fixtures, and equipment. • Rehabilitation of owner-occupied or leased space (maximum $2,000 construction costs). • Professional services including engineering, architectural, local permits or fees, business consulting services; as pre-approved by County CD staff. • Equipment purchase (with or without installations costs) • Marketing materials and advertising including website development and servicing
INELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS
In addition to CDBG-ineligible costs outlined in 24 CFR 570, funds under this Small Business Relief Grant Program may not be used to: • Pay off non-business debt, such as personal credit cards for purchases not associated with the business. • Purchase personal expenses such as buying a new car or making repairs to an applicant’s home. • Direct financing to political activities or paying off taxes and fines. • Purchase personal items or support other businesses in which the borrower may have an interest. • Construction fees over $2,000.
APPLICANT CAPACITY
The County must confirm that the business and the applicant(s) possess the capacity to execute the project proposal to be successful with the use of CDBG funds. Grant applicants for the program are required to demonstrate management capacity and ability to successfully operate a business through their applications.
JOB RETENTION/CREATION
Priority will be given to applicants that commit to retaining employees or jobs. Unless a business applicant’s owner is a member of a low/moderate income household and the business qualifies as a HUD defined microenterprise, then retention or creation of at least one job held by a low/moderate income household is required to access funds in the Small Business Relief Grant Program. Job retention is defined as a total full-time equivalent positions at 40 hours per week, or a combination of part-time positions combining for 40 hours per week, including owners. At least 51% of the positions retained or created must be held by employees who are a member of a low/moderate income household.
PROGRAM DETAILS
GENERAL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
Outstanding Taxes, Fines and Fees – Outstanding debts from municipal citations, child support, taxes owed to federal and state agencies, and delinquent property taxes do not disqualify applicants IF proof of formal payment arrangement is provided. Traditional Credit – If an applicant feels it will strengthen their application, they may elect to submit personal credit information. Otherwise, this is not required.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF HUD SOURCED GRANTS
Grant Applicants must: • Provide a valid DUNS number and CAGE code • Allow the County to complete an Environmental Review (NEPA) before providing funds • A GRANT APPLICANT MUST NOT BE LISTED ON THE FEDERAL DEBARRED LIST (SAM Search)
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
The County of Rockland Office of Community Development will: • Market the Small Business Relief Grant Program • Accept and process applications • Complete an Environmental Review • Complete Income Eligibility qualification and document number of employees • Ensure timely disbursement of funds • Maintain agreement documents and fiscal records • Administer the CDBG-CV Grant that is used for this program • Ensure compliance with program guidelines • Collect, review, and provide annual program updates
GRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Financial assistance from the program is designed to keep businesses operational and retain jobs. Terms and conditions are determined by material submitted in the application. • Grant – the funding is in the form of a grant. The business must be able to provide evidence of job retention for at least 6 months, if this is the type of acceptance to receive the grant, otherwise the funds must be repaid to the County of Rockland Community Development Office. This evidence must be in the form of payroll records. A copy of the handwritten/typed check and stub that was issued to the employee each week is not considered a payroll record. • The County of Rockland must be allowed to collect certain income and demographic data from applicants and their employees. • The County of Rockland must be allowed to collect 3rd party documentation such as financial information that demonstrates potential business closure or layoff. • Maximum grant award of $45,000. • No Application Fee.
PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND GRANT PROCESSING
PROGRAM MARKETING AND OUTREACH
Program marketing will be conducted by the County of Rockland and will affirmatively target women and minorityowned enterprises. Examples of marketing include a public notice in the local newspaper, posting on the Rockland County Government website, notification to all Consortium towns and villages for referral to Community Development for this program and other entities that may be used as a referral agency.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMPLIANCE
The Rockland County Small Business Relief Grant Program will be implemented consistent to the County’s commitment to State and Federal Equal Opportunity Laws. No person or business shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in with CDBG-CV Program Funds on the basis of his or her religion, religious affiliations, age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status (number of ages of children), physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or other arbitrary cause.
APPLICANT CONFIDENTIALITY
All personal and business financial information will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law. Emergency Fund participant files with personal and business confidential information will be kept separate from other funding files and will not be available for review by anyone not responsible for the administration of the grant relief fund.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION/APPEALS PROCEDURE
Applicants whose applications are not selected or not deemed eligible have the right to appeal the decision of the county, limited to procedural errors in the selection process. If no such procedural errors are found to have occurred, the decision of the county shall be final. An applicant may, within seven (7) business days after denial of grant, appeal in writing to the Director of Community Development or their assigned designee. The appeal must state all facts and arguments upon the appeal is based. The Director or assigned designee, will review the Small Business Relief Grant Program Guidelines, the grant application, and the facts of the appeal. The Director or assigned designee will render a written decision within thirty (30) business days of the receipt of the appeal.
EXCEPTIONS/SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
The County of Rockland reserves the right, at its sole discretion to deviate from County-imposed policies and procedures in extenuating circumstances. A request for exception to program guidelines shall be submitted to the Office of Community Development in writing by the applicant. Exceptions are defined as any action which would depart from policy and procedures stated in the guidelines.
GRANT CLOSING PROCESS
Upon successful completion of application process, staff will prepare for the grant closing by having the attorney prepare the grant closing documents. After closing, the applicant submits invoices to request reimbursement funds from the County. Community Development staff will review invoice requests and initiate the reimbursement payment process. CDBG-CV Funds will be disbursed by reimbursement to the applicant for documented eligible project expenses or in some carefully reviewed rare and eligible instances, to third party vendors for purchase orders.
APPLICATION REVIEW
Applications to the Small Business Relief Grant Program are presented by business owners/agents to Rockland County Office of Community Development staff. ALL the information submitted for review must be signed and dated. This includes all attachments. Sign and date all documents included with the application. Top scoring applications will be recommended for approval, until all funding is exhausted. CD staff will keep a spreadsheet of all business names, addresses, amount of approved grant, reimbursement requests and payments. Contracts for approved grant applications will be drafted by County Legal staff and circulated for proper signatures.
APPENDIX A
2021 HUD LOW/MODERATE INCOME THRESHOLD
APPENDIX B
CDBG-CV SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM SCORING MATRIX
If the proposed project meets all threshold criteria, County of Rockland Community Development Staff will utilize the following project scoring criteria to evaluate the application for the purpose of determining priority of project application versus other projects competing for grant funds. The highest scoring projects will be funded first. This table is provided as a reference and will be completed by program staff.
HELPFUL LINKS Dun & Bradstreet – DUNS – https://www.dnb.com/duns-number/get-a-duns.html Cage code – https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ Federal EIN – https://www.ris.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identificatinnumber-ein-online
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village Board of Trustees will not be meeting in person. In accordance with Chapter 417 of the Laws of 2021 signed by the New York State Governor Kathy Hochul suspending certain provisions of the New York State Open Meetings Law, the meeting will be held via videoconferencing, and a transcript will be provided at a later date. The public will have the opportunity to see and hear the meeting live and provide comments.
Topic: Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Time: Sep 23, 2021, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Village of Upper Nyack Board of Trustees REGULAR MEETING AGENDA September 23, 2021 7:00 PM
Minutes – Regular Meeting – August 19, 2021
Police Reports
Treasurer’s Report
Discussion: Parking and Traffic on North Broadway
7:30 PM Public Hearing – Proposed Local Law # 8 of 2021, Extension of Temporary Moratorium on commercial or residential land use applications for property located in the office business (OB) district, laboratory office (LO) district and the R-4 residential district that abuts the 9W corridor
7:45 PM Public Hearing – Proposed Local Law # 9 of 2021, Extension of duration of the temporary moratorium on commercial or residential special use permits and special use permit renewal applications
8:00 PM Public Hearing – Application for a variance from the temporary moratorium on the processing of land use applications in the Office Business (OB) District. See Local Law #1 of 2020 as extended by Local Law #1 of 2021, Section IV – Steven and Lisa Schmittgall, 20 Riverton Drive
Set public hearing for minor amendments to the General Ordinance
