19 Aug Fourth Round of Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund Grants Available
The Town of North Elba is accepting applications for the next round of grant funding through its Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund (LEAF). Deadline for submission is September 1.
The Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund provides grants for programs, activities, and facilities that offer direct benefits to North Elba communities, while improving the quality of place for both residents and visitors. According to Derek Doty, supervisor of the Town of North Elba, communities, businesses, residents, and visitors benefit from the activities that the funding supports. “These grants have been used for some incredible projects that benefit residents and visitors. These include programs that improve local lake and waterway health, playground upgrades, trail improvements, and enhanced building accessibility. Our entire community is improved through these projects.”
Projects eligible must positively impact the community, its residents and its visitors by meeting the following criteria:
- The project must address a significant need in the community
- The proposed project will be executed by an organization that demonstrates sound administration and financial management
- The project must be completed within a defined timeline
- Program or project must be within North Elba, or benefit North Elba residents
- The initiative must be sustainable – independent of ongoing LEAF funding
Additional considerations include: background information about the organization proposing the project, specific plans for the proposed project or equipment purchase, and budget.
The LEAF grant funding is awarded after a two-step process. A local committee representing businesses and local organizations has been established to develop application criteria and ensure a robust and transparent process for allocating these funds. The committee then collects and reviews each organization’s application and presents its recommendations to the Town of North Elba board of directors for final approval.
Total funds awarded through three rounds of LEAF grants since its inception in 2021 is more than $2.1 million.
The North Elba LEAF is a dedicated and ongoing fund available to nonprofits, local governments, and public sector organizations within the Town of North Elba. Monies for the fund are derived from a dedicated 2% Essex County occupancy tax that was implemented by the Essex County Board of Supervisors in June of 2020. The occupancy tax is collected when people stay at a resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast or short-term rental property within Essex County. Funds are allocated to the region’s 18 towns on a pro-rated basis depending on where the tax was generated. Funds must be used to benefit residents and the experience of visitors to the region.
According to Mary Jane Lawrence, chief operating officer at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, LEAF funding provides the means for local organizations to enhance their local communities, activities and programs. “In 2020, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism worked with town supervisors and Essex County to create this fund. We are thrilled that so many local organizations have benefitted – these benefits impact residents and visitors to our local communities.”
Details on how to apply are available at www.RoostADK.com/leaf. Applications for the fourth round of funding will be accepted until September 1, 2022. Awards will be announced in November.
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Jane Hooper, communications manager
Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism
518-621-3662
518-578-6328 (cell)
jane@roostadk.com
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