It is OFFICIAL...Rock Hill has qualified for, and been awarded a Sullivan Renaissance Category C grant in the amount of $5,000. Everyone in Rock Hill, all of our wonderful volunteers are anxious to get working, and we hope many of you will be joining us...watch the blog for updates on volunteer opportunities. If you or your business would like to make a donation of goods, services or money to this year's project in Rock Hill, please contact Mel at (845) 807-2034 or Gary at (845) 866-3783
Sullivan Renaissance Press Release
Sullivan Renaissance Announces
Grants:
BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS BEGIN
Monticello
Planting What Grows Best in the Region – How Easy Is That
[LIBERTY]
– Last Thursday evening volunteers from dozens of communities throughout Sullivan County
received information about the
best plants to grow in the region – and what
kind of containers to put them in – while picking up grants for beautification
and community development projects.
Sullivan Renaissance
announced over $100,000 in funding for 40 grants and three special initiatives
during its annual Spring Forum on April 19
at
the CVI Building in Liberty. The list of participating communities and projects is
attached. Additional grants will be
awarded over the next several weeks.
Thursday’s program featured a presentation entitled
“Container Gardening – How Easy Is That” by Amy Lewis,
Mary Lewis and Vivian Multari-Ginsberg.
They outlined how to design site specific “garden-scapes,”
give the containers the “Wow” factor by including the Renaissance Collection,
and use the best practices to plant and maintain the containers.
The Renaissance Collection of annuals and perennials
includes nine plants that do well in the Sullivan County climate and are
designed to assist communities as the basis of new gardens or as additions to
existing beds. The plants were displayed
at the forum, and the collection is available from local nurseries and garden
centers.
The program opened with the singing of “Imagine” by Amanda
Langseder, Director of Programming at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan
County. The program was followed by refreshments and distribution of grants and
“flower dollars” to community projects.
Beginning its 12th year, Sullivan Renaissance is
helping projects expend less effort while becoming more successful, in part
through better garden design and planning.
A garden design panel reviewed plans for all of the new 2012 projects,
while communities completed Maintenance Assessment Forms for their existing
gardens.
Many projects will also receive support from paid interns
through a partnership with Sullivan County Workforce Development
FORTY GRANTS WORTH OVER $75,000
The five categories of grants announced on Thursday,
include:
·
13 single element
projects in Category A received $1000 grants and $100 in flower dollars;
·
8 multiple element
projects in Category B got $1500 grants and $250 in flower dollars;
·
4 community-wide
projects in Category C were given $5000 grants and $500 in flower dollars;
· 11 maintenance support
grants designed to meet specific needs in the community received $1000 grants,
$250 in flower dollars and various kinds of technical assistance;
· 4 environmental
initiatives totaling $8500 were awarded for: a composting project; accessible
planting beds and solar powered water fountain at a community garden; a
demonstration apple orchard; and continued work on an educational trail and
outdoor learning space.
Sullivan Renaissance Flower Dollars are a resource that
allows groups to purchase additional annual plants by July 8. The flower dollars can only be used at local
participating nurseries, greenhouses or garden centers; and they must be
matched with plantings of an equal or greater value.
The beautification and maintenance efforts must be completed by August
6. Those vying for a Phase II grant will
be judged between August 9 and 12. The
second round of grants will be announced at the Sullivan Renaissance Awards
Ceremony on Monday, August 13 at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake.
Phase II
awards range between $1000 and $10,000 – with the Golden Feather Grant of
$25,000 going to a Category C project. A
special Showing of Flowers award up to $5000 will be given to the community
that has the best showing of flowers, along with four $1000 judge’s choice
flower awards. There are also two $1000
Special Awards in each category: historic and best design ($1000). A Silver Feather Award of $10,000 is given in
Category C, as well as a $5000 award for planning. All projects that finish will receive
completion grants.
In partnership with the Community Foundation of
Orange and Sullivan, a limited number of scholarships to the undergraduate
college of one’s choice will be offered to volunteers who make a significant
contribution to a Renaissance project.
The SUNY Sullivan Foundation also offers full and part-time scholarships
to Renaissance volunteers.
Grants for seasonal demonstration projects (with support from
Thompson Sanitation), additional environmental
initiatives, technical assistance and mini-grants will be awarded at a later
date.
THREE
SPECIAL INITIATIVES WORTH $25,000
Sullivan Renaissance also
announced three special initiatives.
- Sullivan Renaissance is continuing to focus special attention on the
Village of Monticello for a third year, with support secured in part by Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey. In addition to collaborating with the
Village Board, the Monticello Business Association and the newly-formed
Monticello Beautification Group, Sullivan Renaissance is working with a
firm to design a way-finding sign system to link Broadway with municipal
parking lots.
- Recognizing
their importance as first and lasting impressions, Sullivan Renaissance is
also continuing work on three gateway projects. The first is a collaborative effort with
the Sullivan County Division of Public Works to refurbish the terminal and
grounds at the Sullivan County International Airport in Bethel, with
support secured in part by NYS Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther. The others are improvements to Route 17
Exit 104 and the Shortline Bus Terminal in Monticello.
- The Catskill
Edible Garden Project is a new initiative this year, designed to
grow the next generation of food entrepreneurs. This is a partnership among Sullivan
Renaissance, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)
and Green Village Initiative. The program will work at school
demonstration sites and at CCE to increase access to healthy food and
raise awareness of food resources, nutrition and agricultural career
options by incorporating a hands-on experience for youth.
Sullivan Renaissance collaborates with many
organizations and agencies. The
Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce
sponsors the merchant discount program with almost 75 businesses offering
discounts for community projects.
Several organizations help local groups
supplement their projects by providing some level of volunteer help such as
general clean-up, site preparation, planting and painting. Other assistance may also be available. Some of these agencies include: Alternatives
to Incarceration; Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H; Daytop; Delaware Valley
Job Corps Center; New Hope Community; Occupations, Inc.; Retired Senior
Volunteer Program; Sullivan County BOCES; and Workforce Development Board of
Sullivan County, Inc.
Since 2001 Sullivan Renaissance has funded hundreds of projects
throughout Sullivan County. For more information about programs, call Sullivan Renaissance at
845-295-2445 o
r visit the website at
www.sullivanrenaissance.org.
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