Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund Awards Sixth Round of Grant Funding

08 Dec Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund Awards Sixth Round of Grant Funding

The Town of North Elba is awarding more than $370,000 to several local organizations through its North Elba Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund (LEAF). 

Projects approved to receive LEAF funding were submitted by several local organizations including: Adirondack Rail Trail; Adirondack Carousel; Adirondack Speedskating Club; Saranac Lake Civic Center; Shipman Youth Center; and Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks; along with many others.

Criteria used to consider an organization’s funding request includes information about the organization, plans for the proposed project or equipment purchase, budget, and how the proposed project will benefit local communities, residents and visitors to the area. The 10-person LEAF committee, representing businesses and local organizations, reviews each grant submission and presents its recommendations to the Town of North Elba Board of Directors for final approval. 

Projects supported by this round of funding include many that are related to health and safety, such as the purchase of safety gear for young aspiring speed skaters, along with portable emergency equipment at local events, mental health-based first aid training and enhanced training for our local first responders. Other projects provide for environmental sustainability and local attraction support, such as the proposed energy efficiency initiatives at the Saranac Lake Civic Center, activity surrounding the Adirondack Rail Trail trailhead and snowmaking equipment at Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center. 

According to Derek Doty, supervisor of the Town of North Elba, “The projects supported through the LEAF grants showcase the creativity of our local businesses and community leaders, while providing important benefits for our region. Over the past few years, these projects have made some real positive contributions to our communities, benefiting our residents and visitors,” he commented.

LEAF grants are available to nonprofit organizations, local governments and public sector organizations within the Town of North Elba. The grant funding is derived from a dedicated 2% Essex County occupancy tax, implemented by the Essex County Board of Supervisors in 2020. The occupancy tax is collected when people stay at a resort, hotel, motel, bed-and-breakfast or short-term rental property within Essex County. LEAF grants have totaled $2.6 million, to date.

Mary Jane Lawrence, chief operating officer at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), echoes Supervisor Doty’s sentiment regarding benefits for everyone who enjoys the region. “The projects supported continue to enhance experiences within the communities. Those who live here and those who visit benefit from these projects. The goal is to ensure our communities thrive; a healthy community is a great place to live and a wonderful place to visit.” 

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, the Whiteface Region and Lake Placid, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state.