26 Jul Sixth Round of Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund Grants Available
The Town of North Elba is accepting applications for the upcoming round of grant funding through its Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund (LEAF), a dedicated and ongoing fund available to nonprofits, local governments, and public sector organizations within the Town of North Elba. 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.
Proposed projects must positively impact the community, its residents and its visitors by addressing a significant need in North Elba, being completed within a defined timeline and managed by an organization dedicated to sound management. The projects must also be sustainable, independent of ongoing LEAF funding.
According to Derek Doty, supervisor of the Town of North Elba, over the past three years, there have been more than 75 projects funded by the grant that have improved the community in many ways. “There have been some really significant projects, supported by the LEAF grants, that have a positive impact on the community, residents and visitors to our region,” he said. “We are really pleased with the success of this program.”
As part of its mandate to support community projects that enhance resident and visitor experiences within local communities, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism worked with the Essex County board of supervisors to establish this funding opportunity. The fund is sustained through an additional 2% occupancy tax implemented by the Essex County Board of Supervisors in June of 2020. Occupancy tax is collected when people stay at a resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast or short-term rental property within the county. The funds are distributed to the 18 towns in Essex County and used to benefit residents and the experience of visitors to the region. The Town of North Elba, to formalize the process, established the LEAF fund and an oversight committee to allocate its portion of the two percent.
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 community, activities and programs. “We are thrilled that so many local organizations have benefitted from this grant funding – the funds support projects that impact residents and visitors alike,” she said. “A healthy community is a sustainable community and a great place to visit.”
LEAF grant funding is awarded after a full review of applications by the LEAF committee. The committee presents its recommendations to the Town of North Elba board of directors for final approval. Details on how to apply are available here. Applications will be accepted until September 1, 2023; awards will be announced in November.
The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state.
Contact:
Jane Hooper, communications manager
Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism
518-621-3662
518-578-6328 (cell)
jane@roostadk.com
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