December 2014
Seven clients of Choice Words, an Ulster County-based grant writing and public relations firm, were awarded $4.14 million in state economic development funding last week supporting major projects and programs serving five Hudson Valley counties, Choice Words President Steve Densmore announced.
State officials announced the awarding of the grants Thursday, Dec. 11. They were obtained through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application, the primary conduit for state funding of not-for-profit agencies and economic development initiatives.
“I am extremely pleased that Choice Words was able to play a key role in achieving funding for so many worthwhile projects in the Mid-Hudson Valley. These awards will bring more than $4 million to benefit a remarkably diverse range of projects in five counties,” said Densmore.
Choice Words clients received the following amounts:
- Jawonio Inc.: $2.586 million; to help fund a $24-million consolidation and expansion of its Rockland County campus that serves developmentally disabled adults in three counties (Rockland, Westchester & Orange counties);
- Thornwillow Press: $600,000 to fund an online custom book-making portal and other improvements to the long established stationery and bookbinding firm, based in Newburgh (Orange County);
- Kikkerfrosch Brewery: $500,000 to help fund the construction of a state-of-the-art brewery in Goshen (Orange County);
- Walkway Over the Hudson: $189,000 to implement “The Greater Walkway Experience” marketing for the span between Poughkeepsie (Dutchess County) and Highland (Ulster County);
- Stone Ridge Orchards, Marbletown (Ulster County): $130,000 for “green” canning equipment and the construction of a food hub and open-air market on its 114-acre site;
- Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, $114,500 to hire a full-time development director and purchase its headquarters in Phoenicia (Ulster County);
- Mount Vernon Technology and Science Youth Center: $25,000 to fund a strategic plan to guide development of the center (Westchester County).