Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund Grants Applications Due February 1

17 Jan Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund Grants Applications Due February 1

The Town of North Elba is accepting applications for the upcoming round of grant funding through its Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund. Deadline for submission is February 1.

The Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund (LEAF) provides grants for programs, activities, and facilities that offer direct benefits to North Elba communities, while improving the quality of place for both residents and visitors. According to Derek Doty, supervisor of the Town of North Elba, the entire community is improved through these projects. “Grant recipients have undertaken exciting and important projects that benefit residents and visitors alike. Our community is continually improved by their hard work.”

Proposed projects must positively impact the community, its residents and its visitors by meeting the following criteria:

• The project must address a significant need in the community
• The project must be executed by an organization that demonstrates sound administration and financial management
• The project must be completed within a defined timeline
• Program or project must be within North Elba, or benefit North Elba residents
• The initiative must be sustainable – independent of ongoing LEAF funding

Additional considerations include: background information about the organization applying for the grant funding, specific project plans, information about the proposed equipment purchase, and budget.

LEAF grant funding is awarded after a two-step process. A committee representing businesses and local organizations has been established to develop application criteria and ensure a robust and transparent process for allocating these funds. The committee then collects and reviews each organization’s application and presents its recommendations to the Town of North Elba board of directors for final approval.

The North Elba LEAF is a dedicated and ongoing fund available to nonprofits, local governments, and public sector organizations within the Town of North Elba. Monies for the fund are derived from a dedicated 2% Essex County occupancy tax that was implemented by the Essex County Board of Supervisors in June of 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. Funds must be used to benefit residents and the experience of visitors to the region.

According to Mary Jane Lawrence, chief operating officer at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, the organization worked with town supervisors and Essex County to create this fund in 2020 to enhance local communities, activities and programs. “Many local organizations and communities have benefitted from this grant funding,” she said. “We strongly believe that a healthy community is a sustainable community and a great place to visit.”

Details on how to apply are available here. Applications will be accepted until February 1; awards will be announced in April, 2023.