Investing In Today For a Better Tomorrow

This County is proudly ranked #15 of all local governments nationwide by the Environmental Protection Agency for utilizing 100% U.S. generated wind electricity. While this is a great feat, this accomplishment is only the beginning. My administration announced the launch of Rockland’s Sustainability Project in my 2023 State of the County address.

Under this initiative almost two dozen departments are working together on generating a long-term plan to improve the County’s rankings in the New York State Climate Smart Communities and Clean Energy Communities programs.

The more milestones we achieve in these programs the more grant funding we are eligible for, ultimately opening the door for more green investments without impacting the wallets of local taxpayers.

I’m pleased to let everyone know we are also scheduled to purchase 3 properties under our Open Space Acquisition Program, saving 26 acres from development.

Why? Because we see the value in open space and outdoor activities.

It is a fact that spending time outside has a positive impact on mental health, reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and can even improve memory and concentration. When the pandemic hit and everything was locked down the outdoors, parks, and playgrounds became the only respite we had. But sadly, the crisis also underscored the disparity that exists when it comes to access to outdoor recreation in some of our communities. We saw the repercussions of this firsthand as mental health issues increased throughout COVID lockdowns.

So, we’re using some of our ARPA funding to ensure all our families can enjoy the outdoors and reap the health benefits it provides. We’ve awarded $7 million in grants and counting to municipalities and nonprofits for over two dozen projects for parks, playgrounds, and gardens across Rockland. We are also conducting a feasibility study for a walk & bike path that will stretch from Palisades to Stony Point.

Once all these projects are complete the people of Rockland will feel even prouder to call this County home. Not only will our natural beauty be elevated to an all-new level, but these improvements will benefit Rocklanders for generations to come.

Making investments today that benefit tomorrow also means giving our youth, the future workforce of this County, all the tools they need for success. It is for that reason, I’m happy to announce that this year we are expanding our Youth Employment Program.

For over 20 years this Youth Bureau program has placed thousands of young people in jobs where they gain professional skills to prepare them for some of life’s many hurdles. Just last year, we employed more than 250 people who worked over 35,000 hours.

With ARPA funding, we are piloting an expansion of this program to be year-round and open to anyone ages 14 to 24.

Expanding this program will help more youth prepare for the real world that awaits. We’ve already seen the positive return on investment for similar youth programs. In fact, one of Rockland’s Conservation and Service Corps members Charity Dikson was nationally recognized at the Corps Network’s conference in Washington D.C.

This Haverstraw resident is among just five recipients of this prestigious award and a stellar example as to why programs like these are important.

I encourage our families to learn more about these programs on our website: https://rocklandgov.com/departments/youth-bureau/