May 29, 2024
HYDE PARK, NY—Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight today announced 13 recipients of Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund (MHMF) grants, which will support the construction of much needed housing in the Mid-Hudson Valley Region of New York State.

Choice Words LLC, a full-service grant writing firm with offices in New Paltz and Ithaca, served as the lead grant writers for four of the winning developers, who were collectively awarded $19.5 million for transformational projects in the City of Poughkeepsie (2), the City of Newburgh, and the City of Peekskill.

“These visionary mixed-use and infrastructure projects will lead to the creation of up to 1,180 new housing units in our region along with commercial spaces and jobs that will help revitalize core neighborhoods in the region’s cities,” said Steve Densmore, President and CEO of Choice Words LLC. “This unique new state grant program promises to have a profound impact that will catalyze the creation of much needed downtown transit-oriented development.”

The four projects include:
 Kirchner Realty’s Newberry Project was awarded $2 million to transform 278-288 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, a long vacant, blighted building in a distressed, urban center into a commercial/residential/community hub. The former Up to
Date Department Store building will offer 28 apartments (six of which will be affordable), 11,000 square feet of commercial space, and turn empty lots into a beautiful 8,000 square foot plaza for outdoor dining, art exhibits, and community events.
 The Schoolhouse Project at 191 Washington Street in the City of Newburgh was awarded $2.5 million to bring a long vacant former school building back to life by bringing new commercial and residential vitality to what is now a vacant city block, helping to catalyze new growth on William Street, a formerly thriving commercial corridor. The nearly $25 million project will create 70 residential units with 12 apartments and another 58 units in two new buildings. The commercial portion will transform the auditorium of the former school building into a bustling 8,000 square foot brewery, tap room, and food stalls for local vendors, creating up to 15 jobs in its first few years of operation. Another 7,000 square feet of commercial space will be included in the two new buildings where a complementary mix of retail, office, and light manufacturing tenants will generate activity and create additional jobs.
 The 316 Main Street Redevelopment Project in the City of Poughkeepsie was awarded $5 million to replace an aging and underutilized single-story structure at a highly visible downtown location, helping to contribute to the overall commercial and cultural health of the neighborhood. The nearly $30 million project will construct a six-story, mixed use building with 80 mixed-income residential units and 21,705 square feet of ground floor commercial space in the heart of
downtown Poughkeepsie. The project will contribute greatly to the rejuvenation of the middle Main Street corridor, providing significant and much needed housing while also creating ample commercial space in the center of the city. It is
expected to create 22 full-time jobs for the commercial tenants that will be housed in its two lower floors.
 The City of Peekskill was awarded $10 million for infrastructure improvements to support several new residential and mixed-use development projects already in the pipeline. This project is estimated to support up to 1,000 new units of
housing and will fund structural improvements for two existing parking facilities, construction of a new parking garage, road elevation, streetscape design, and sewer excavation and repair. The city will also allocate funding to complete
shoreline improvements, including the scenic overlook boardwalk in Riverfront Green Park. The total project cost is estimated at $20 million.

December 2021

Choice Words LLC handled the grant writing for 13 projects that received $11.8 million in collective funding last week via the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The awards will help fund major development projects for companies, municipalities, colleges and nonprofit organizations located in Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Some of the projects awarded funding include the Ferari Associates North80 Development Project in Westchester ($3 million), The Plant Powerhouse Redevelopment Project in Yonkers ($2 million), Viking Industries Expansion Project in New Paltz ($1.33 million), Foster Supply Hospitality Grand Street Redevelopment Project in Newburgh ($1.25 million), Clarkson University’s North Country Innovation Hot Spot ($1.25 million), City of New Rochelle’s Complete Streets Phase IV Project ($600,375), Upriver Studios Expansion Project ($500,000) and Walkway Over the Hudson Lighting Phase III Project ($400,000). State officials announced the awarding of the grants on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The CFA is the primary conduit for state funding of not-for-profit agencies, municipal infrastructure and economic development initiatives.

“Choice Words is gratified to have written and filed 13 winning applications on behalf of so many worthy and visionary projects throughout the Hudson Valley and even one located upstate,” said Choice Words’ President Steve Densmore. “These extremely impactful projects will leverage more than $600 million in new development within our region and will catalyze many important economic development and operational initiatives.”

Thirteen of Choice Words’ clients were awarded the following amounts:

• Ferari Associates North80 Development Project in Westchester ($3 million) The North 80 Phase One Development Project will create a mixed-use “village” in central Westchester with nearly 490,000 square feet of medical offices, biomedical facilities, housing, hospitality venues, shopping, and retail. (Westchester)

• The Plant Powerhouse ($2 million) The former Glenwood Power Plant will be re-envisioned as a center for leadership, activism, and education on climate change. Redevelopment of The Powerhouse building on the site will include advanced geothermal systems, and other elements designed to make The Powerhouse entirely carbon neutral. (Westchester County)

• Viking Industries Expansion ($1.33 million) The Viking Industries Expansion Project will significantly increase capacity and efficiency by constructing and equipping a new 45,000 sq. ft. addition on the plant at 89 South Ohioville Road in New Paltz. (Ulster County)

• Foster Supply Hospitality Grand Street Redevelopment Project in Newburgh ($1.25 million) Foster Supply Hospitality will transform three long vacant, county-owned buildings on Grand Street in downtown Newburgh into a bustling hospitality complex featuring a hotel, rooftop tavern, spa, restaurants, and event space. (Orange County)

• Clarkson University’s North Country Innovation Hot Spot ($1.25 million) Clarkson University has developed a scalable model with a track record of success through CAMP, the Shipley Center for Innovation, and the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship. (North Country)

• Upriver Studios Expansion Project ($500,000) Upriver Studios will create a carbon neutral campus and a more competitive series of sound stages for film and television production projects in a 101,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Saugerties. (Ulster County)

• City of New Rochelle’s Complete Streets Phase IV Project ($600,375) The city will implement the next step of its Complete Streets Plan on a section of Brook Street by improving traffic signalization and adding ADA accessible sidewalks. (Westchester County)

• Aspire Brewery ($500,000) Aspire Brewing will transform a mostly vacant 90,000 sq. ft. commercial building in the Town of Wallkill into a micro-brewery and hospitality attraction. (Orange County)

• Walkway Over the Hudson Lighting Improvement Project ($400,000) The Walkway Over the Hudson will complete a sustainable and permanent lighting system along the pedestrian bridge by installing LED lighting in the belvederes (overlooks). (Dutchess & Ulster Counties)

• Nonno’s Garden Harlem Valley Homestead Expansion Project ($500,000) The proposed capital expansion will upgrade infrastructure, repurpose existing farm structures and undertake new construction. This will add lodging and increase programming and event capacity to transform the farm into a premier agri-tourism destination. (Dutchess County)

• Town of Saugerties Kiwanis Ice Arena Air Cooled Chiller ($269,688) The Kiwanis Ice Arena Air-Cooled Chiller Project will replace an outdated R-134a chiller with a new, more efficient and cost effective, environmentally friendly chiller that uses R717 ammonia refrigerant. (Ulster County)

• Clarkson University Dennings Point Campus Build Out ($150,000) The project will complete the Dennings Point Campus Build Out, a creative and comprehensive project that will renovate a 40,000 sq. ft. former paperclip factory to bring community revitalization and job creation to the City of Beacon. (Dutchess County)

• City of New Rochelle Climate Vulnerability Assessment ($80,000) The city will develop a climate vulnerability assessment. The assessment will prioritize the input of disadvantaged communities within the city and advance the city’s goal of creating a climate justice adaptation plan. (Westchester County)

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.

December 2018

Choice Words LLC handled the grant writing for eight projects that received $3.3 million in collective funding last 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, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Some of the projects awarded funding include the Wildberry Lodge Resort Project in New Paltz ($1.25 million), Hutton Brickyards Re-development Project ($1.17 million), Jacob Burns Film Center ($506,000), the Thompson Cider Mill Expansion ($137,000), and the Town of New Windsor Sewer Improvement Study ($100,000). State officials announced the awarding of the grants on Tuesday, Dec. 18. 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 eight winning applications on behalf of companies, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations located in four 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.”

Eight of Choice Words’ clients in four counties were awarded the following amounts:

• Wildberry Lodge ($1,250,000) to help fund Turk Hospitality’s proposed $42M resort in New Paltz, which will include a hotel, restaurants, catering facility, recreational amenities, and a butterfly conservancy (Ulster County);
• Hutton Brickyards Redevelopment Project Phase II ($1.17 million) to expand upon the redevelopment of a significant portion of the City of Kingston’s long underutilized waterfront. This project will bring more amenities and hospitality services to North Street Brick Works’ successful efforts to reimagine this former industrial site as an entertainment and community market venue (Ulster County);
• Jacob Burns Film Center ($506,000) will dramatically improve and expand its services as the famed theater and cultural center located in Pleasantville, NY (Westchester County);
• Thompson Cider Mill Expansion ($137,000) will fund the re-location and expansion of the long-established cider mill into hard cider production in a new location in the City of Peekskill (Westchester County);
• Walkway Over the Hudson Lighting Project ($100,000) will fund the design and specifications of a new lighting system for the iconic linear park spanning the Hudson River between the City of Poughkeepsie and the Town of Lloyd. (Dutchess and Ulster Counties);
• Town of New Windsor Sewer Improvement Project ($100,000) will fund an engineering study identifying and suggesting improvements to infiltration and inflow from portions of the Town’s Sanitary Collection System, an increasing concern for residents as the system ages and as damage from significant weather events increases (Orange County);
• Storm King Art Center ($50,250) will fund the marketing of the popular outdoor sculpture venue as a cultural destination to New York City residents and others (Orange County);
• Family Services of Poughkeepsie ($20,000) will fund the creation of the Family Partnership Center Campus Master Plan to delineate the Family Partnership Center’s (FPC) capital improvement needs, facility-wide, and provide a work plan for moving forward, that will consider roofing, programmatic space, reconfiguration, accessibility, and structural improvements (Dutchess County).

September 2018

City of New Rochelle Awarded State Prize at Sept. 27 Event

 NEW PALTZ, NY – New Paltz-based Choice Words LLC developed and wrote the the City of New Rochelle’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) application that was awarded $10 million last week.

Howard Zemsky, CEO and President of the Empire State Development Corporation, announced that New Rochelle had won the prestigious award on Sept. 27^th during a ceremony at the Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle. The annual competition awards the prize to one village, town, or city in each of the state’s 10 economic development regions. Previous Mid-Hudson Region winners have included the cities of Middletown and Kingston.

Suzanne Reider, Senior Project Manager of the Department for Development for New Rochelle, expressed the City’s appreciation. “Big applause and thanks to Choice Words, New Rochelle’s DRI grant-writing partner! We are excited to share the spotlight with Steve Densmore, Briana Maloney, and the team at Choice Words!”

“We are excited for our partners at the City of New Rochelle and look forward to the many great projects that will be funded by this significant award,” said Choice Words’ President Steve Densmore. “This achievement would not have been possible if not for the incredible work of Choice Words Vice President Briana Maloney, who served as lead writer on this application.”

While Empire State Development requires a rigorous, community-based planning process before expending any of the funds, New Rochelle’s application prioritized the need for train station upgrades, expansion of North Avenue Bridge over I-95 to include open space and improved pedestrian circulation, creation of an elevated park (the “Linc”) to facilitate pedestrian travel from Lincoln Avenue to North Avenue, capital improvements to the Boys and Girls Club, two-way traffic conversion of the downtown road network, and improved connectivity from the Downtown Overlay Zone to nearby employment centers, health care facilities, educational institutions, and recreational amenities.

Along with year around work on behalf of nonprofits, municipalities, and colleges, Choice Words specializes in the state’s Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), where non-profits, for-profit businesses and municipalities can compete to win funding for regional economic development projects. To date Choice Words has helped its clients win more than $63 million in grant awards from both government and private philanthropic sources .

 

December 2017

NEW PALTZ – New Paltz-based Choice Words LLC handled the grant writing for nine projects that received $7.3 million in collective funding this week via the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The awards will help fund major development projects for companies, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations located in Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Some of the projects awarded funding include the Kingstonian Redevelopment Project ($2 million), Hyde Park Downtown Infrastructure Project ($1.5 million), Tuxedo-Sloatsburg Corridor Revitalization Project ($1 million), Hutton Brickyards Re-development Project ($1 million), City of New Rochelle’s Complete Streets Project ($804,000), and Mount Saint Mary Campus Revitalization Project ($500,000). State officials announced the awarding of the grants on Wednesday, Dec. 13. The CFA is the primary conduit for state funding of not-for-profit agencies and economic development initiatives.

“Choice Words is gratified to have written and filed nine winning applications on behalf of companies, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations located in five Hudson Valley counties,” said Choice Words’ President Steve Densmore. “These extremely worthy projects will bring $7.3 million into our region and will catalyze many important economic development and operational initiatives.”

Nine of Choice Words’ clients in five counties were awarded the following amounts:

• Kingstonian Redevelopment Project ($2 million) to help fund a $48 million mixed use private development in the City of Kingston’s Stockade District (Ulster County).
• Hyde Park Downtown Infrastructure Project ($1.5 million) The Town of Hyde Park will construct a downtown sewer system to allow for economic growth in the area into a mixed use walkable community. (Dutchess County);
• Tuxedo Sloatsburg Corridor Revitalization Project Phase II ($1 million) includes expansion of 7 Lakes Inn, creation of a bike shop adjacent to Harriman State Park with access to Sterling Forest trails, transformation of a long-vacant grocery store into a mixed use space and significant landscaping to showcase the Historic Stewart farm (Orange-Rockland Counties);
• Hutton Brickyards Redevelopment Project ($1 million) to redevelop a significant portion of the City of Kingston’s long underutilized waterfront. This project would build upon North Street Brick Works’ successful efforts to reimagine this former industrial site as an entertainment and community market venue. (Ulster County);
• City of New Rochelle’s Complete Streets Project ($804,000) to reduce travel lanes on Quaker Ridge Road from four to two; create a dedicated bicycle lane and sidewalk on each side of the street; create new high visibility crosswalks; and implement work on North Avenue including parking, signalization, and changes to traffic flow for the purpose of reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled. (Westchester County);
• Mount Saint Mary Campus Revitalization Project ($500,000) includes renovations to its Dominican Center, existing campus dormitory, the Schools of Business and Nursing, Aquinas Theater and improvements to its athletic fields. (Orange County);
• Walkway East Entranceway Visitor Improvement Project ($405,000) The Dutchess Welcome Center will be built at the entry way to the Walkway in the City of Poughkeepsie. (Dutchess County);
• Arc of Westchester Direct Support Professional Training ($80,900) The Westchester County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc will provide “Interactional Supervision” training to enhance the skills and success of the paraprofessionals who are typically less experienced in participating in a supervisory relationship. (Westchester County);
• Starling Productions, Inc. (DBA TMI Project) ($45,000) TMI Project will hire a new full-time Director of Marketing and Communications position to support marketing, outreach, and public relations, transitioning the organization from a regional live storytelling organization to an international multi-media storytelling hub.

December 2016

New York State has awarded more than $8.3 million in economic stimulus money to four businesses, four non-profit agencies, a labor union and two municipal governments whose applications were written by Choice Words LLC, a New Paltz-based grant writing and strategic communications firm. Choice Words secured 12 grants for the 11 clients.

The grants were awarded by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council under the state’s Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process.

Grants ranged from $20,000 for an economic feasibility study in the Town of Wawarsing to $2 million for waterfront development in Poughkeepsie and $2 million for a conference center and luxury hotel in Hyde Park.

“These CFA awards will help build new campuses, parks and job-generating hospitality venues throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley,” said Choice Words President Steve Densmore. “Choice Words is extremely pleased to help secure funding for so many fine projects.”

The projects, their host counties and grant awards are:

• Walkway Over the Hudson, Dutchess and Ulster counties: visitor center, landscaping and other amenities, $500,000;
• Bellefield at Hyde Park, Dutchess County: a luxury hotel, spa and conference center in Hyde Park adjacent to the Culinary Institute of America, $2 million;
• Iron Workers Local 417, Orange County: A training and education center in an addition to the union’s headquarters in the Town of Newburgh, $350,000;
• Tuxedo Sloatsburg Corridor Revitalization, Orange and Rockland counties: Renovation of Tuxedo Market and Tuxedo Tavern and development of the Sloatsburg Garden Hotel and Sloatsburg Antiques and Arts Center, $750,000;
• Jawonio Inc., Rockland County: Construction of a new consolidated campus in New City to serve special needs children, $825,000;
• The Arc of Ulster-Greene, Ulster County: Renovations of a building in Midtown Kingston that will house manufacturing space for an international company and mixed-use arts space, $200,000;
• The Town of Wawarsing, Ulster County: Funding for a feasibility study for the re-use of the former dairy farm located on the grounds of a correction al facility, $20,000;
• Poughkeepsie Waterfront Development, LLC, Dutchess County: Expansion of a marina and construction of a Marina Club that will include a pool, restaurant and apartments, $2 million;
• City of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County: Construction of a 3,000-foot promenade along the city’s waterfront. The project will include a deep-water boat pier, fishing stations, benches, fountains and other amenities, $500,000;
• Family Services, Inc., Dutchess County: Renovation and upgrading of the Family Partnership Center in the City of Poughkeepsie, including the installation of a playground and outdoor badminton and volleyball court, $522,576;
• Monroe Community Sports Centre Corp., Orange County: Renovation of Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex, including energy-efficiency improvements and retail and locker room expansion, $700,000.

March 2016

Choice Words LLC, a New Paltz-based grant writing and public relations company, has promoted two employees.
Choice Words President Steve Densmore announced that Briana Maloney, of Kerhonkson, is the company’s new Vice President and that Jennifer Gutman, of New Paltz, has been promoted to Senior Grant Writer.

Densmore said Maloney and Gutman have played key roles in the continuing growth of Choice Words.

“Briana Maloney has been with us since the company started serving the fundraising and strategic communication needs of Hudson Valley nonprofits and companies in 2009,” he said. “She has distinguished herself as an excellent researcher and grant writer who has also helped to guide Choice Words’ significant growth in recent years. Frankly, the company wouldn’t exist without her.

“Jennifer Gutman has demonstrated a deep commitment to the fundraising needs of Choice Words’ clients and has secured numerous significant grants on their behalf since joining the company two years ago,” Densmore continued. “She is a talented grant writer and researcher who has achieved much in a short period of time. I look forward to great things from Jen in the coming years.”

Before joining Choice Words, Maloney was employed as academic librarian at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh and at Rockland Community College in Suffern. She also serves as a grant coordinator at SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge. Maloney holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Providence College and a Master’s of Information Science degree from SUNY Albany.

Gutman earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English from SUNY New Paltz. In addition to her work at Choice Words, she is an adjunct instructor in English at SUNY New Paltz and a freelance writer and editor. Previously, she worked as an assistant editor at Luminary Publishing, publisher of Chronogram magazine.

December 2015

New Paltz-based Choice Words LLC handled the grant writing for eight projects that received $6.5 million in collective funding last week via the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The awards will help fund major development projects for companies and nonprofit organizations that operate in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties.

Some of the projects awarded funding include Bellefield at Hyde Park ($2.25 million), Wildberry Lodge ($1.75 million), the Walkway Visitor Facility Improvement & Access Project ($600,000), and the Stewart Airport Infrastructure Improvement Project ($1 million). State officials announced the awarding of the grants on Thursday, Dec. 10. The CFA is a primary conduit for state funding of not-for-profit agencies and economic development initiatives.

“Choice Words was privileged to participate in the development and filing of CFA applications on behalf of these extremely worthy projects, which will bring $6.5 million into our region to catalyze many important economic development initiatives,” said Choice Words’ President Steve Densmore

Eight of Choice Words’ clients in three counties were awarded the following amounts:

• Bellefield at Hyde Park ($2.25 million) to help fund a $94 million resort and spa to be located across from the Culinary Institute of America (Dutchess County);
• Wildberry Lodge ($1.75 million) to support construction of an $84 million hotel, water park, and recreational tourism resort in New Paltz (Ulster County);
• Stewart Airport Infrastructure Project/Town of New Windsor ($1 million) to help fund a series of needed repairs and improvements of sewer and water infrastructure serving Stewart International Airport (Orange County);
• Walkway Visitor Facility Improvement & Access Project ($600,000) to fund visitor amenities and enhancements at entranceways to Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park (Dutchess and Ulster counties);
• Black Dirt Distillery ($329,000) for expansion of bottling and production at the long-established distillery (Orange County);
• Queen City Lofts ($300,000) to help fund construction of artists loft apartments and commercial space in the City of Poughkeepsie (Dutchess County);
• Heritage Restoration Properties ($215,000) to help expand the production at the microbrew and health beverage producer in the City of Middletown (Orange County);
• Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice ($56,000) to support the annual arts festival in Phoenicia (Ulster County)