FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2006
CANAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 2006 TOURISM GRANT AWARDS
$30,000 Bi-Annual Program Supports Tourism Marketing of New York State Canals
The New York State Canal Corporation today announced the recipients of the 2006 Canal Corporation Tourism Matching Grant Awards Program. A total of $30,000 is being awarded for local initiatives to promote the New York State Canal System and Canalway Trail as a year-round recreational resource and tourism destination. A list of the 2006 grant recipients is attached.
“The Canal Corporation is pleased to provide this critical funding to help promote tourism and recreation along the Canal System and Canalway Trail,” Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello said. “These grants will continue the strong partnership between the Canal Corporation and local groups and agencies and build upon this year’s enhanced marketing and tourism promotion efforts.”
The matching grants program began in 2000 and is conducted bi-annually. It is open to designated Tourism Promotion Agencies in New York State for the development of Canal System promotional material consistent with regional themes set forth in the Canal Recreationway Plan and recommendations contained in the state’s “Report on the Future of New York State Canals.”
The grants provide up to $2,500 for the development of brochures, maps, leaflets, magazines or other printed materials that promote the Canal System and/or Canalway Trail, or specific Canal-related events, festivals or attractions.
Special consideration was given this year to applications that involve collaborative partnerships among several TPA’s and/or private industry to create multi-county, regional thematic canal destinations and self-guided tours consistent with historical, cultural, urban and environmental assets and attractions contained along or within the Canal System and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Additionally, all awarded projects incorporate the New York Canal System’s
promotional theme: “Cruise the Past, Unlock the Adventure”, must be made
available to the public at no charge and be available for distribution by June
1, 2006.
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the
Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles
across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake
Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history
and culture.
In late May 2005, Governor Pataki unveiled his vision for establishing the Erie Canal Greenway and, ultimately, the Empire State Greenway, connecting the Niagara, Erie and Hudson River Greenways. The Canal Corporation and an interagency task force conducted an extensive outreach campaign to gather input and ideas, and develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to create the new Erie and Empire State Greenways and examine certain roles and responsibilities currently assigned to the Canal Corporation. The recommendations were made public and delivered in a report to the Governor in late December 2005.
For more information about news and events along the New York State Canal System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.
2006 CANAL CORPORATION TOURISM MATCHING GRANTS
(Agency name - Contact person - Address - Amount of award)
Freedom Park, Nell Burrows, 1962 Ridge Rd. Scotia 12302, $1,650.00
Schenectady Co., Wendy Glasser, 620 State St. 6th floor Schenectady 12305, $1,000.00
Rogers Island Vistors Ct., Eileen Hannay, PO Box 208, $1,000.00
Mohawk Towpath Byway, Eric Hamilton, PO Box 90, $2,050.00
Village of Medina, Adam Tabelski, 417 W. Oak Orchard St., $1,500.00
Village of Ft. Plain, Micki Lieber, 168 Canal St. Fort Plain 13339, $2,500.00
Mabee Farms, Pat Barrot, 1080 Main St. Rotterdam Junction 12150, $932.00
Buffalo Niagara CVB, David Lacki, 617 Main St. Suite 200 Buffalo 14203, $2,500.00
Schd'y Cty Chamber, Gail Kehn, 306 State St. Schenectady 12305, $2,500.00
Herkimer County Chamber, John Scarano, 28 W. Main St. Mohawk 13407-0129, $2,500.00
Greater Rochester Vis. Ass., Greg Marshall, 45 East Ave. #400 Rochester 14604, $2,500.00
Downtown Schd'y Imp. Corp., Colleen Merays, 184 Jay St. Schenectady 12305, $2,500.00
Oswego County, Christine Gray, 46 E. Bridge St. Oswego 13126, $2,500.00
Arts Rec Comm. Of Whitehall, David Mohn, 6 North Williams St. Whitehall 12887, $2,500.00
Greater Phoenix Imp. Assoc., Janet Harder, 25 Church St. Phoenix 13135, $500.00
Rensselaer County, Christine Golden, 1600 7th Ave. Troy 12180, $1,367.00
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