December 2019
Choice Words LLC handled the grant writing for seven projects that received $4.87 million in collective funding this week via the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The awards will help fund development, infrastructure, and capital improvement projects for companies, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations located in Dutchess, Orange, and Westchester counties.
Some of the projects awarded funding include the Walkway Lighting Project in Poughkeepsie/Lloyd ($588,562), Bow Tie Cinemas building of a multiplex in downtown Poughkeepsie ($2 million), a Complete Streets Project for New Rochelle ($500,000), and an engineering study for the Town of Cornwall ($100,000). State officials announced the awarding of the grants on Thursday, December 19th. The CFA is the primary conduit for state funding of not-for-profit agencies and economic development initiatives.
“Choice Words is pleased to have contributed to seven winning applications on behalf of companies, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations located in three Hudson Valley counties,” said Choice Words’ President Steve Densmore. “These worthy and visionary projects will bring economic development, jobs, and infrastructure improvements to our region.”
Six of Choice Words’ clients were awarded seven awards in three counties in the following amounts:
- Pelham RE Partners, LLC was awarded $943,072 from the Net Zero Energy for Economic Development program grant to construct a new net zero energy five-story mixed-use development, consisting of apartments and commercial retail space.
- Walkway Over the Hudson was awarded $588,562 from the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation’s Environmental Protection Fund to install sustainable LED lighting at the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park for increased safety and security, extend hours that the Park is open to the public, and increase opportunities for nighttime programming. They group was awarded another $250,000 from the Recreational Trails Program to construct paving, lighting and signage at the Haviland Avenue parking lot and at the Hudson Valley Rail Trail lot.
- Bow Tie Cinemas was awarded $2M from Empire State Development to build a 40,000 square foot, multiplex cinema on an underutilized City of Poughkeepsie parking lot, creating an entertainment hub that will create jobs as well as contribute to the revitalization of a distressed community.
- Family Services, Inc. was awarded $490,000 from the Homes and Community Renewal’s New York Main Street Program to completely rehabilitate the façade of its main entrance to increase accessibility.
- The City of New Rochelle was awarded $500,000 from the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Climate Smart Communities Program for its Complete Streets Part II project which will convert North Avenue into a one way street and expand bike and pedestrian access, facilitating the completion of the LINC – a 1.6- mile urban, linear park.
- The Town of Cornwall was awarded $100,000 from the DEC’s Engineering Planning Grant program to complete an engineering report that evaluates solutions to inflow and infiltration from portions of the town’s Firthcliffe Sewer District.