Rockland Continues to Rally for Tourism

When I was first elected to be your County Executive, we were the most fiscally stressed County in all of New York with a $138-million deficit. We needed every lifeline imaginable to help Rockland rebound and tourism played a crucial role in that recovery.

Tourism has endless benefits; it creates jobs, strengthens economies, and contributes to infrastructure development.

According to the most recent Tourism Economic Study from New York State, tourism generated more than $400,000 in visitor spending in 2021, a 50% increase over 2020.

When visitors explore our downtowns, eat at our restaurants, or shop in our stores, they are not just fueling our economy, they are stabilizing taxes for our residents.

Without tourism generated sales and local taxes, the average household in Rockland would have to pay an additional $556 in yearly taxes to maintain current services. That is a lot of money saved thanks to the efforts of our Economic Development and Tourism Office creating programs like the grants we are announcing here today.

These funds are going to organizations that bring arts, music, theater, sports, and culture into Rockland, enriching our county and economy simultaneously.

When this grant program first began in 2016, we were only able to award about $100,000.

Thanks to the efforts of Lucy Redzeposki, our Director of Economic Development and Tourism and the dedicated staff in the Department, this year we are distributing over $278,000 in tourism grants – more than ever before – to 29 organizations.

The tourism funds going to these agencies are County dollars and come attached with a set of performance expectations centered around promoting Rockland to boost tourism.

We have every confidence that the organizations receiving this funding will use it to bring visitors here to see all that Rockland has to offer.

And I know that once those tourists get a taste of our music, theater, art, riverfronts, and downtowns, they’ll keep coming back.

Congratulations to the following organizations who have won these awards, we know you will do us proud with your efforts and I look forward to attending so many of these wonderful events:

 

Organization – Award

 ArtsRock –  $9,000.00

Edward Hopper House Museum –  $10,000.00

Friends of Harmony Hall – Jacob Sloat House –  $15,000.00

Garner Arts Center –  $17,000.00

Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce –  $15,000.00

Greater Suffern Chamber of Commerce –  $10,000.00

Haverstraw Brick Museum –  $5,000.00

Haverstraw Riverwide Arts –  $10,000.00

Historical Society of Rockland County –  $5,000.00

Holocaust Museum & Center –  $10,000.00

India Cultural Society Rockland –  $5,000.00

JCC Rockland –  $7,500.00

New York Boulders –  $15,000.00

North Rockland Chamber Commerce –  $5,000.00

 Penguin Rep Theatre –  $17,000.00

Phoenix Theatre Ensemble –  $10,000.00

Piermont Chamber of Commerce –  $10,000.00

RCC Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center –  $10,000.00

Rockland Center for the Arts –  $10,000.00

Rockland County Police Emerald Society –  $2,000.00

Rockland County Pride Center –  $4,000.00

Rockland Farm Alliance –  $9,000.00

Rockland Fashion Week – $5,000.00

 Sons of Italy –  $5,000.00

Rockland Rowing Association –  $5,000.00

Sloatsburg Chamber of Commerce –  $15,000.00

The Angel Nyack –  $5,000.00

United Latin Festival –  $8,000.00

Visit Nyack –  $25,000.00

Total – $278,500.00