presented by Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance August 11th, 2021
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Young Entrepreneurs Expo Coming to Long Beach
Come shop with young entrepreneurs at the summer edition of the Young Entrepreneurs Expo, which will be held in Long Beach on Saturday, August 14th, from 11 AM to 5 PM. The expo will take place at the MLK Community Center at 615 Riverside Blvd. in Long Beach. There will be many vendors and small businesses participating. It will feature shopping with young entrepreneurs, music, food, face painting, raffles and more. Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance, will be participating. The expo is hosted by Q.B. Generational Change and the MLK Community Center. Q.B. Generational Change is an organization that strives to empower youth with financial education and community development. Its goal is to create financially responsible youth through exposure and creativity. Participants learn how to save, invest and donate. Participants also learn about entrepreneurship and various emerging technologies, all while fostering competence, confidence, connection, caring/compassion and character. The Long Beach Martin Luther King Center continues to work closely with organizations, partnering to deliver educational and human services support, emergency crisis intervention services, cultural diversity projects, youth development, programs for seniors, recidivism training, and recreational activities. This expo serves as one way to bridge the gap between textbook learning and practical application. Come check it out. You can find more information here. Uniondale Festival Celebrates Local Community
On July 31st, the John J. Byrne Community Center partnered with Wolfpack United to host this year's Uniondale Community Festival. The Uniondale Community Festival is a local event where families come out and enjoy music, culture, and community togetherness, while spotlighting Uniondale organizations and businesses. Vision staff and Long Island Main Street Alliance members attended this celebration. The John J. Byrne Community Center, since its inception thirty-five years ago, has provided community space for children, youth, and adults of every walk of life to gather safely to pursue opportunities for growth, enjoyment, exploration, and general well-being. The organization is on the cusp of obtaining a new community center building at the A Holly Patterson property on Jerusalem Avenue. This is being made possible by a substantial donation pledge from the Nassau Health Care Corporation, facilitated by the Engel Burman Group. “The organization has reached an important milestone in recent times that brings us closer to our goal of a state-of-the-art green community center. Uniondale is excited about this important community project,” explains David Greaves, Board of Directors President, John J. Byrne Community Center. This delightful summer event was well attended, spotlighting businesses and organizations such as Youthful by Yanae, Paparazzi Consultant, Discover Green, Family and Children‘s Association, Sutton Landing, Mental Health Association of Nassau County - NY Project Hope, Brandresumes, and New York Life. Look for upcoming details about the 30th Annual Family Cookout to be held on September 18th, hosted by the Uniondale Community Council. You can find out more about the John J. Byrne Community Center here. Westbury Parking Structure Opens as Third Track Construction Continues
The Village of Westbury’s $23 million, three-and-a-half story parking structure, built by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as part of its Third Track project, is slated to open on Monday, August 9th. It can accommodate 676 vehicles, with additional surface parking on the north side of the Westbury Long Island Rail Road station, adding another 107 spots. “The village has long had the goal of creating parking not only for our residents, but also for other commuters who use the Westbury LIRR station,” according to Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro. “We were experiencing capacity constraints when it came to parking around the train station. The development of the garage nearly doubles the available parking at the station.” Of the 676 total spots in the new garage, 376 spots are reserved for village residents, while 300 spaces will be available to non-resident commuters at a cost of $6 a day. The Village has also generated an informational flyer to help motorists and pedestrians understand the new traffic flow and parking specifications. You can read the new (North) Parking Garage details and traffic restrictions here. Check out Long Island Business News' article here. Asbury Shorts Outdoor Film Concert Coming to Westbury
Asbury Shorts, New York City’s longest running non-competitive short film exhibition and touring show, is returning to the founder’s hometown of Westbury on Friday, September 10th, for a free outdoor evening film show at Piazza Ernesto Strada on Post and Maple Avenues, in the middle of the Village. The show will open with live music by the Vince Scuderi Quartet at 7:15 PM, with the first film showing at approximately 8 PM. The show will feature a mix of past audience request favorites, mixed with new global festival winners and honorees. Past show guest hosts from the early years of Asbury Shorts’ Long Island days will be on hand to introduce some of the films. Asbury Shorts is named for Westbury’s Asbury Avenue, where the founder of the festival, filmmaker Doug LeClaire, grew up. “I love returning to Westbury, a community that nourished and educated me,” Mr. LeClaire emphasizes. For 40 years, Asbury Shorts’ film concerts have been presented at venues across the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Germany. “Our mission,” explains Mr. LeClaire, “is to screen world renowned, festival award winning, short films - from all years - in cinemas, art museums, performing arts centers and cool outdoor locations, on real cinema screens, as opposed to You Tube, smart phones or computers.” The program features a fast paced and highly entertaining line up of the best in short film comedy, drama and animation and often includes Oscar nominees, US film festival Best of Show winners and international honorees from the past and present. “These films are recommended for ages 16 and way above,” Mr. LeClaire states. Reservations are not necessary. Bring a folding chair just in case seating runs out. Rain date is Saturday, September 11th. This 10th anniversary Short Film Concert of Westbury is presented by Westbury Arts and is sponsored in part by Rowan Realty. You can find more information here. |
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Trust for Public Land Hosts Informational Session on LI Greenway
Recently, our friends at the Trust for Public Land hosted an event at the Snapper Inn in Oakdale for Long Island residents to learn more about its work, share ideas, discuss the important impact greenways provide, and explore ways to partner together to make neighborhoods greener, safer, healthier, and more connected. Vision was in attendance. Highlighted that evening was the Long Island Greenway which, when completed, will be a multi-use trail spanning from Manhattan to Montauk. The genesis of the project began in January 2017 when New York State proposed a multi-use 750-mile contiguous route through NY. The State’s newly created Empire State Trail was completed in December 2020. The trail, however, ends in Manhattan, leaving out the 7.8 million New Yorkers who live east of the city on Long Island. For this reason, the Trust for Public Land is developing plans for a 175 mile Greenway. The proposed trail is intended to serve as an extension of the Empire State Trail and utilize a combination of established utility rights-of-way, on-road routes, and existing trails. “The Trust for Public Land is going to make it possible for Long Island to be part of the Empire Trail,” NYS Assemblyman Steve Englebright stated during the event. “I am so very grateful for your vision and determination to bring recreation and a sense of place to the communities the trail will go through. You are the vanguard of what will inevitably be one of the greatest tourist attractions on all of Long Island.” Carter Strickland, who has served as the New York state director for The Trust for Public Land since 2017, discussed the benefits of the Long Island Greenway, including providing connectivity to the Empire Trail, and jump-starting a true network of trails for point-to-point travel across the Island. “We believe in the power of place.” Mr. Strickland stated. The greenway would be a multi-purpose trail that would be mostly off-road along power lines, connecting downtown redevelopment areas such as Innovation Park and the Nassau Hub, 26 parks and 46 train stations, Mr. Strickland emphasized. It would make walking and biking safe for people on Long Island and would be a real option for exercising, visiting friends, even picking up groceries. It would also be good for downtown business as well. “This is the future, low carbon, no carbon emissions transportation. It makes our communities livable, walkable. Those 24/7 live, work, play communities are what we are talking about and we can create it here,” Mr. Strickland concluded. “We just need infrastructure money to do it.” This past April, request for proposals for a Preliminary Survey and Design Study to advance the conceptual design of the first phase of the Greenway, a 25-mile segment of the proposed trail from Eisenhower Park to Brentwood State Park, was released. You can learn more about the Long Island Greenway here. Suffolk County Initiative Seeks to Preserve local Farmland
On August 3rd, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced the 100 for 10 Farmland Preservation Initiative that will see a $100 million dollar investment over the next 10 years to preserve the remaining at-risk farms across Suffolk County, with an initial commitment of $25 million over the next three years. The new funding program, which was included in the County Executive’s proposed Capital Budget, will bolster the County’s farmland preservation efforts and seeks to motivate surrounding municipalities to join the push to conserve all remaining unpreserved farmland, a recent press release from Suffolk County reads. “One of the many things that makes Suffolk County incredible is our unparalleled farmland, and Suffolk was a pioneer when it came to preserving farmland,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “Despite the ongoing pandemic, we moved full steam ahead with our first in the nation farmland preservation program and today we are committed to preserve the remaining 10,000 acres to ensure farming is forever cemented as part of the fabric of Suffolk County.” Agriculture is an essential element of Suffolk County living and Long Island economic development. With $226 million in sales, Suffolk County is the 4th highest ranking County in the state of New York in terms of the total market value for agricultural goods produced. Suffolk is home to 560 farms that employ more than 4,600 people. These farms grow and provide locally sourced food to area businesses and restaurants and serve as the foundation of Suffolk’s rural character and tourism economy. Fifty years ago, the Nassau-Suffolk Comprehensive Plan Summary in 1970 recommended the preservation of 30,000 acres of farmland in order to sustain the long-term viability of Long Island farming. Shortly thereafter, in 1974, Suffolk County created the first in the nation Farmland Development Rights program. Since the creation of the program, Suffolk County has preserved over 11,000 acres. Additionally, other local municipalities and land trusts have preserved 9,000 acres, bringing the countywide total to 20,000 acres. Through the new 100 for 10 Farmland Preservation program, Suffolk County will work with municipal partners to preserve the remaining 10,000 acres and reach the goal of 30,000 acres to permanently protect the economic viability of agriculture. The new capital funding is intended to motivate and inspire County-wide action. Suffolk County will be working with all ten towns, private land trusts, and New York State to ensure the County is able to meet the preservation goals. As part of the effort, the County is reaching out to the five East End supervisors who have access to Community Preservation Fund (CPF) funding and to New York State to convene a meeting about how the County can effectively partner to meet this critical goal for the LI region. The County is inviting farmers to sign up for the program. You can find more information as well as an application here. |
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United States Senate Debates Trillion Dollar Infrastructure Act
U.S. senators introduced a sweeping $1-trillion bipartisan plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, on Sunday, August 1st. By Monday, August 2nd, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought to speed up consideration of the largest public works legislation in decades. The 67-32 vote in the Senate allows debate on the bill to begin. “Let’s start voting on amendments,” Leader Schumer said as the Senate opened for business on Monday. “The longer it takes to finish the bill, the longer we will be here.” The massive infrastructure package, a top legislative priority for President Joe Biden, seeks to invest in roads, bridges, ports, high-speed internet and more. Among the major new investments, the bipartisan package is expected to provide $110 billion for roads and bridges, $39 billion for public transit and $66 billion for rail. There’s also to be $55 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure as well as billions for airports, ports, broadband internet and electric vehicle charging stations. New York stands to benefit from the $1 trillion appropriations bill, which includes several projects for the Empire State, with The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Gateway Tunnel project stand to be among the biggest recipients, should the U.S. House of Representatives concur with the spending bill. The MTA is in line to get at least $10.7 billion and the Gateway Tunnel will be eligible to receive billions in funding through transit grants. In addition, the bill contains billions in funding for New York communities to improve drinking water and sewer systems. There’s also a $10 billion set aside to address specific contaminants found in water systems in Long Island, Hudson Valley and other parts of the state. New York’s airports will receive more than $937 million out of $25 billion carved out for airports nationally. That funding will be available for runway and taxiway improvements as well as upgrading facilities and technology for air traffic controllers. John F. Kennedy International Airport will receive nearly $295 million of that funding, and LaGuardia Airport is set to get $150 million. On an even more local level, the topic of infrastructure investment has begun to take shape. Robert Calarco, Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature, has launched a new initiative titled "Long Island Infrastructure and Future Together." A roundtable discussion was held on May 26th, moderated by Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance, which brought together local stakeholders, public agencies, experts, and advocates, to work together in identifying ways to prioritize and improve the island's infrastructure to meet the needs and expectations of residents and businesses. Explaining the importance of infrastructure investment, with an eye towards business, energy, labor, child care and technology, Mr. Alexander states, "Investment in local infrastructure is essential for protecting our environment, preserving our quality of life, and growing both our downtowns and our economy." From a rail perspective, NY GoRail continues to advocate to ensure the final bill is pro-rail, organizing letters with more than 100 signers and over 700 grassroots emails to members of Congress. Freight railroads can play an important role in fostering continued economic recovery, while helping to address the threat of global climate change. It is not known whether senators outside the bipartisan group that negotiated this bill will offer amendments that could possibly upset the delicate coalition that has been stitched together. According to the White House, the proposal would be financed through unspent COVID-19 relief funds, targeted corporate user fees and strengthened tax enforcement regarding crypto currencies. If the bill passes the Senate, it must then be considered in the House of Representatives. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stated she will not bring the measure to the floor until the Senate moves on a second $3.5 trillion spending package which encompasses the President's policies on child care, health care, education and the environment. You can review the bill here. You can see video of Presiding Officer Calarco's Infrastructure Roundtable here. You can read coverage of this bill at AP News, CBS, and The Center Square. GoRail’s policies on transportation are available here. |
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Great Neck Plaza’s Summer Concert Series Returns
The Village of Great Neck Plaza is pleased to announce its summer concert series has returned. The concerts are free and are held in Firefighters Park on Grace Avenue. The concerts are scheduled for every Tuesday night at 8 PM through August 31, 2021. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be held on the Thursday following the original scheduled date. Upcoming schedule: · August 17 - Roni Shalom, “International Singer” Welcome Back to Farmingdale Village
Upcoming Summer Events: Farmers Market by Schneider's Farm Movies On the Village Green Farmingdale Music On Main Stay tuned for more event updates. Live Summer Concerts Coming to Freeport’s Nautical Mile
The Long Island Arts Council at Freeport will be hosting live, free summer concerts at the Esplanade on the Nautical Mile. The concerts are held Thursday nights from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. Attendees need to bring their own chairs. Concerts are rain or shine, and location is determined at 6 PM the night of the concert. You can find updates, possible changes, and rain date location (the tented outdoor area across the street from BrewSA) here. Summer Concert Line-Up • August 19 - Frayed Knots Live Music Returns to the Glen Cove Village Square
The Glen Cove Downtown Sounds committee has announced its annual concert series will take place live this summer with a diverse array of artists scheduled to perform on nine Friday evenings in July and August. Beginning July 2nd, bands will be performing in person on the Village Square stage. Produced by the Glen Cove Business Improvement District (BID), Downtown Sounds began in 1997 with local jazz musicians playing at the intersection of Glen and School Streets. “After two years, the Glen Cove BID and the Downtown Sounds Concert Committee are thrilled to be able to present live music for the enjoyment of our community and benefit of our businesses,” said Patricia Holman, Executive Director of the BID. “This year more than ever, we have a diverse lineup that will appeal to a wide range of musical tastes.” This year’s artists will be performing on the Downtown Sounds stage, as opposed to the show mobile that has been used in recent years. In addition to better sound quality, restoration of the stage presentation increases the space available for dancing. The program includes: Downtown Sounds 2021 will be live in-person concerts, but will still be live-streamed through Facebook Live, and broadcast on large screen TVs throughout downtown. Concerts start at 7 PM. You can find more information here. Free Outdoor Concert Series in Westbury
Thursday Nights in the Piazza! Westbury Arts is launching its free outdoor summer concert series, with live, in-person concerts held in the village’s central plaza: The Piazza Ernesto Strada located at 200 Post Avenue in Westbury. All the concerts are held on Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm. Here is the line-up: August 12 - AquaCherry (Reggae, rock, pop) In case of rain, concerts will be held at the Westbury Community/Senior Center at 360 Post Avenue in Westbury. For more information, contact info@westburyarts.org or 516-400-ARTS (2787) East End Arts to Hold Annual Street Painting Festival September 5th
East End Arts’ 25th Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival will be held Sunday, September 5th, from 12 PM to 5 PM throughout downtown Riverhead and on the green at East End Arts at 133 E. Main Street, Riverhead. Since 1972, East End Arts has been enriching communities through the arts by way of creating a vibrant arts community on the East End which enhances individual and professional artistic development, stimulates community enrichment, economic development, and cultural tourism while encouraging a wide range of artistic expression through education, exhibition and performance, and collaboration across the community. Artists, musicians, and lovers of the arts, young and old, will gather along the Peconic River for this day-long celebration of the arts, centering around the Street Painting Festival, fashioned after the Italian street painters "Il Madonnari", a street chalk art form dating back to the 16th century, as well as activities and entertainment for everyone. Street painting squares sponsored by businesses, families, and individuals are used as a canvas for inspirations in chalk. Happenings include: • Street Painting For more information, contact Monique Parsons at mparsons@eastendarts.org or 631-727-0900 x303. You can find more information East End Arts here. Registration is now open for vendors, sponsors, & artist squares. Rain date is Monday, September 6th, from 2 PM to 5 PM. MTA to Promote Downtown Events
The MTA Long Island Railroad is reaching out to its partners in government in an effort to promote and support post COVID-19 economic recovery in local downtowns. Events will be promoted on its social media channels, as well as its website, in an effort to encourage New Yorkers to get out and #TakeTheTrain to the great destinations and events our communities offer. The MTA Long Island Railroad looks forward to helping promote all the wonderful events and destinations across this great Island. |
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Grants Available to Homeowners that Assist Peconic Estuary Watershed
The Peconic Estuary Partnership (PEP) continues to provide a unique opportunity for those that live within the Peconic Estuary watershed. The PEP will provide financial rewards for homeowners who remove turf and pavements, and add green alternatives to their properties that benefit the environment. One project is allowed per homeowner/property address. Homeowners can earn up to $500 to offset the expense of installing green infrastructure on their properties including rain barrels, rain gardens and native plant gardens. Stormwater filtered through the soil, sand and gravel within these gardens is dramatically cleaner when it enters our groundwater, nearby bodies of water, and storm drains. Rain barrels collect rainwater from roof runoff that can be reused in gardens, reducing the amount of water flowing over paved surfaces and into storm drains and nearby bodies of water. This is a great opportunity to make a positive impact for your local estuary and all its amazing bays. While improving your property, you are reducing pollution from entering local waters. Funds are limited and will be granted on a first come first served basis. For more information on the Homeowner Rewards Program. For the Homeowner Rewards Program webpage. For the interactive tool and plant database. SBA PPP Forgiveness Webinars
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has scheduled several informational webinars regarding the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgiveness platform, which will begin accepting applications from borrowers on August 4th, 2021. The new "Direct Forgiveness" Platform will help the PPP borrowers with loan amounts of $150,000 or less (93% of the PPP borrowers) apply for PPP Forgiveness directly through SBA (not the lenders). The dates for the webinars include: Wed. Aug. 18, 2021 at 2:30pm (SBA and Tech Incubator at Queens College) Wed. Aug. 18, 2021 at 2:30pm (SBA, Tech Incubator at Queens College, LaGuardia Community College SBDC & Queens College Outreach Center) Thurs. Aug. 19, 2021 at 9:30am (SBA and LaGuardia Community College SBDC) Thurs. Aug. 19, 2021 at 11am (SBA and Queens Chamber of Commerce) (in English) Tue. August 24, 2021 from 10am to 11am (SBA and Renaissance EDC) Thurs. Sept. 2, 2021 at 2pm (SBA and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce) Thurs. Sept. 16, 2021 at 9:30am (SBA and York College SBDC) Thurs. Sept. 23, 2021 at 9:30am (SBA and LaGuardia Community College SBDC) Mon. Oct. 4, 2021 at 2pm (SBA and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce) For more information. The NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Open
The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. Seven communities that received funding for emergency rental assistance directly from the federal government opted to administer their own programs. Residents of the Towns of Hempstead, Islip and Oyster Bay must apply with their local programs for emergency rental assistance and are ineligible for assistance from the state-administered Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Town of Hempstead: https://www.lihp.org/herapintake.html Eligibility: New York residents are eligible for ERAP if they meet all of the following criteria: • Household gross income is at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). These income limits differ by county and household size. A household may qualify based on current income or calendar year 2020 income that is at or below 80 percent AMI. There are no immigration status requirements to qualify for the program. Households eligible for rental arrears may also be eligible for help paying utility arrears at the same rental unit. Priority Applications: For the first 30 days of the program, priority will be given to households in the following order: 1.Households with income at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) that also include a household member who: • Is currently unemployed for at least 90 days; or 2. Households with income at or below 50 percent AMI 3. Households with income at or below 80 percent AMI that also include a household member who: • Is currently unemployed for at least 90 days; or 4. Households with income at or below 80 percent AMI After the first 30 days, applications for all eligible households will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as funds remain available. Benefits: Households approved for ERAP may receive: • Up to 12 months of rental arrears payments for rents accrued on or after March 13, 2020. Payments will be made directly to the landlord/property owner and utility company on behalf of the tenant. Tenant applicants will be notified of the amounts paid on their behalf. If a landlord is difficult to locate or does not otherwise provide information needed to complete the application, funds will be held for up to 180 days to allow sufficient time to locate the landlord and collect required information as well as to provide tenant protections and maximize landlord participation. Please note: Once the application is started, all questions must be answered and the application signed and saved to submit the application. There currently is no way to save a partially completed application. Applicants are encouraged to gather all the information needed before starting an application including income of household members and rental amounts. NYS Coronavirus Relief Grant Program for Small Businesses
The NYS Legislature has approved $800 million in grants for small businesses across New York. Applications are now open for anyone who is eligible to apply. The following is from New York State’s website: The New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations in the State of New York who have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant awards will be calculated based on a business’s annual gross receipts for 2019 (see below for more information). Grant amounts and calculations are subject to change by Empire State Development. Annual gross receipts: $25,000 – $49,999.99: Award is $5,000 / business Eligible Businesses Include: Small businesses, Micro-businesses, and For-profit independent arts and cultural organizations (collectively, “Eligible Applicants”) must be currently viable and have begun operation on or before March 1, 2019, and continue to be in operation as of the date of application (maybe shuttered due to COVID restrictions). See the FAQ section below for definitions of business categories above. Eligible Applicants will be required to show loss of gross receipts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols which resulted in business modifications, interruptions, or closures. Small businesses and Micro-businesses must: 1. Have 2019 or 2020 Gross Receipts of between $25,000 and $500,000 per annum More information on the grants as well as a guide on how to apply is available here. Funding for Pedestrian Safety and Transportation Systems
On July 1st, New York State announced the availability of $110 million in new funding to support community-based investments designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of local and regional transportation systems, while promoting safety and mobility. This initiative funds projects that create new and enhance existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities, improve access to public transportation, create safe routes to schools, convert abandoned railway corridors to pedestrian trails and help reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. In addition, these funds may be used by municipalities to support activities that meet requirements of the Clean Air Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Projects will be selected through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria that include public benefit, air quality improvement, and finance and/or delivery innovation. Projects must be related to the surface transportation system and provide full access to the public. Applications for funding may be developed by any municipality or non-profit incorporated group, but projects must be sponsored either by a municipality, a state agency or public authority eligible to administer federal transportation funds. Eligible project activities include: • Constructing new/enhancing existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The funds, made available to the State through the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the New York State Department of Transportation, are provided through the Transportation Alternatives Program and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. These programs will provide up to 80 percent of project-related cost, with the remaining 20 percent provided by project Sponsors. The New York State Department of Transportation will be accepting applications for this funding opportunity through September 29, 2021. You can find theapplication, program guidance, and workshop schedules here. The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Offering Four Rounds of Grants
Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued and expanded to the present day, NYSCA will make available $105 million in critical arts and cultural funding. The grants will aid in the arts sector's multi-year recovery from COVID-19 and spur the revitalization of New York's creative economy, which fosters $123 billion annually in economic activity and supports more than 500,000 jobs statewide. There will be four rounds of funding, with $20 million already committed to multi-year awards in the first round. Each round is designed to address the most urgent needs of organizations and artists within New York's nonprofit creative sector. Restart NY: Rapid Live Performance Grants ($10 million): Support will directly address the area of the arts sector hardest hit by COVID-19, and reinvigorate near term, in-person performance opportunities. This funding will prioritize the recovery of New York's unparalleled performance organizations, venues, artists, and groups. This $10 million opportunity offers both direct support from NYSCA and regrant support through NYSCA's Partnerships and Statewide Community Regrants program. Grants of $5,000 and $10,000 will be available for eligible performing arts organizations for planned performance programming in 2021. Support provided through the Community Regrants Program, which will focus on reviving performance on a very local level, will be administered by NYSCA partners statewide. The goal of this regrant support is to reach small, local organizations that do not receive direct grants from NYSCA. Round 1 guidelines and portal for direct NYSCA Rapid Live Performance Grants will open on June 16. Application portal will close July 1. Expanded Access to Funding ($15 million): Support will expand NYSCA's current network of valued regrant partners to reach New York's vast and diverse community of artists and organizations. Funding will be distributed through NYSCA Partnerships and Statewide Community Regrants. Increased support at the local level will ensure more communities, organizations, and individuals will have access to NYSCA funding. Round 2 guidelines will be posted June 16, 2021. Application portal will open on July 19 and close August 2. Organizational and Individual Artist Recovery ($40 million): Support will broaden individual artist assistance and deliver extremely flexible funding for organizations through a streamlined application experience. Grants offered in this round will greatly expand eligibility and encourage new applicants across a wide spectrum of artistic and cultural practices. Priority will be given to applicants that serve historically underrepresented communities. Round 3 guidelines will be posted on June 16. Application portal will open July 19 and close September. Capital Funding for the Arts ($20 million): Support will assist organizations in making improvements to address health and safety issues in their spaces and venues among other needs. Any New York State nonprofit arts and culture organization is encouraged to apply. Round 4 guidelines and application portal will open in September. You can find more information here. PSEG LI Local Community and Small Business Grants Available
PSEG Long Island is proud to announce funding for the Outdoor Spaces program has been renewed for a limited time. More than $2 million in grants and discounts were provided last year to help more than 1,000 local businesses and organizations meet the ever-evolving challenges of COVID-19 and continue to thrive. “PSEG Long Island knows that small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our communities and our local economy,” said John Keating, manager of Economic and Community Development at PSEG Long Island. “Even before the pandemic transformed all of our lives, we were offering grants and discounts to encourage foot traffic in downtown commercial districts and bring businesses into empty storefronts. We evolved our programs to address the new realities our commercial customers are seeing, and the response has been enormous.” PSEG continues to offer Main Street Revitalization grants and Vacant Storefront discounts to businesses. In 2020, the company also began offering “Outdoor Spaces” grants to local chambers of commerce to help transform sidewalk areas and plazas with the seating, lighting and heating needed to keep customers dining and shopping locally. Limited funding for this grant program will be renewed for 2021 on a first come, first served basis. The program will offer funding of up to $5,000 to a Chamber of Commerce or Business Improvement District. Applications will be accepted until June 1, 2021. Here is a breakdown of PSEG Long Island’s 2020 support of local businesses: Small Business First • Supplemented PSEG Long Island’s already significant energy efficiency rebates with $1.8 million in PSEG Long Island Economic Development funding, allowing most projects to be done with no customer cost. Outdoor Spaces • PSEG Long Island approved 29 applications, representing a total of more than $125,000. Main Street Revitalization • More than $254,000 was provided to businesses and organizations through standard Main Street Revitalization grants in 2020, supporting upgrades and projects at restaurants, arts centers, breweries and more. To learn more about all the programs PSEG Long Island offers to support local businesses, please visit this site. NY Forward Loan Fund
New York State has opened pre-applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund. Loans from this fund are available to small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords in New York State. New York Forward loans must be fully repaid over a 5-year term with fixed annual interest rates of 3 percent for small businesses and landlords. Small businesses may apply for the lesser of $100,000 or up to 100% of the average monthly revenues in any 3-month period from 2019 or the first quarter of 2020. This loan can be paid back over five years with first year being interest only. However, if small businesses have received either a PPP loan or an EIDL loan from SBA, they would not be eligible to apply. NYS has set a goal of 18% of total funds under this Program for Long Island Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as industries and regions reopen however, priority for New York Forward Loans will be given to industries and regions that have been reopened. Resources are available to assist in preparing applications for small businesses, landlords and nonprofits in industries and regions that have not yet reopened. To view more details, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, click here: If you need technical assistance through this process, please contact an Entrepreneurial Assistance Center near you and inform the counselor that you need help for the NY Forward Loan application. You can find your closest contact center here. |
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Our SponsorCameron Engineering & Associates, LLP
Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP (Cameron Engineering) is a full service multi-disciplined consulting engineering and planning firm founded in 1985. Their Firm is comprised of experienced and qualified engineers, landscape architects, planners, facility operators, and environmental scientists dedicated to providing professional, timely and responsive services to our clients. A comprehensive knowledge of municipal codes, government regulations, and industry standards is incorporated into all of their work. This assures that Cameron Engineering provides quality engineering and up-to-date solutions. The principals and senior level management are continuously involved in the planning, control, implementation, and quality review of each project. Timely submissions and quality engineering are the primary reasons for our clients to request our services on a repeat basis. |
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“One of the many things that makes Suffolk County incredible is our unparalleled farmland, and Suffolk was a pioneer when it came to preserving farmland. Despite the ongoing pandemic, we moved full steam ahead with our first in the nation farmland preservation program and today we are committed to preserve the remaining 10,000 acres to ensure farming is forever cemented as part of the fabric of Suffolk County.” - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
“The village has long had the goal of creating parking not only for our residents, but also for other commuters who use the Westbury LIRR station. We were experiencing capacity constraints when it came to parking around the train station. The development of the garage nearly doubles the available parking at the station.” - Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro
