New City, NY, – County Executive Ed Day and Director of Economic Development and Tourism Lucy Redzeposki announced $175,691 in grants to 18 organizations that promote tourism in Rockland. Representatives of many organizations attended the announcement at Palisades Credit Union Park, the home of the New York Boulders, in Pomona.
“When I first took office in January of 2014, I vowed to find new and innovative ways to bring money into Rockland County. More than 7 years and a few hurdles later, we have done just that,” said County Executive Day. “Today we take another step towards continuing to improve and enrich life in our community. But It’s not just about enriching our county with events, theater, and art, it’s about bringing visitors and the money they spend into Rockland.”
According to the most recent Tourism Economic Study from New York State Empire State Development, tourism accounts for 7.1 percent of all employment in Rockland and generates more than $30 million in local taxes. If not for tourism generated sales and local taxes the average household in Rockland would have to pay an additional $585 in yearly taxes to maintain current services.
“The tourism funds going to these agencies are County dollars and they come with a set of performance expectations. We have every confidence that the organizations receiving this funding will use it to bring visitors here to see all that Rockland has to offer. And I know that our baseball, music, theater, art, riverfronts, and downtowns will keep them coming back. This is the way forward. We have created a resilient environment where businesses thrive, and jobs are created,” said County Executive Day.
$10,000 was awarded to the New York Boulders to promote the upcoming visit of the Israel Olympic Baseball Team on Monday, July 12, the NYPD-FDNY baseball game on Saturday, August 28, and other events.
“We are proud to be one of the leading tourist attractions in Rockland County and just experienced a record-breaking July 4th with nearly 6,000 people coming to see the Boulders,” said NY Boulders Team President Shawn Reilly. “We are excited to promote the Boulders, to have the Israel Olympic Team here and we’re excited to have the New York Police Department playing the Fire Department of New York later in the summer.”
For more information about New York Boulders games and events visit: https://www.nyboulders.com/
The full list of organizations receiving funding follows:
| ArtsRock | $9,200 |
| Friends of Harmony Hall | $20,000 |
| GARNER Arts Center | $10,000 |
| Greater Suffern Chamber of Commerce | $8,200 |
| Haverstraw Brick Museum | $4,000 |
| Haverstraw Riverwide Arts | $8,250 |
| Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education | $5,000 |
| India Cultural Society of Rockland | $4,900 |
| Nanuet Chamber of Commerce | $12,000 |
| New York Boulders | $10,000 |
| Nyack News & Views/CCSD Sport Event | $8,200 |
| Penguin Rep Theatre | $19,000 |
| RCC Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center | $8,000 |
| Rockland Center for the Arts | $6,000 |
| Rockland Farm Alliance | $5,000 |
| Rockland Pride Center | $5,000 |
| Sloatsburg Chamber of Commerce | $12,941 |
| Visit Nyack | $20,000 |