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Agritourism & Education Program Awards Farmers in Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties
Monday, April 19, 2004
Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno (R-C, Brunswick) today announced local recipients of the New York Agritourism & Education Program. The grants, totaling over $52,000, were awarded to farmers in Rensselaer and Saratoga counties who, through on-site visits and formal reviews, presented their proposal to establish their farm as an educational and tourist attraction.
"Agriculture is New York�s number one industry -- the Agritourism and Education Program will teach our visitors just how valuable farming is to this State and to the Nation," said Senator Bruno. "These funds will significantly improve education and tourist opportunities at each of these well established businesses. I welcome anyone to visit the farms of Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties."
Local farms who will be receiving NY Agritourism & Education grants include:
Viewmere Farm, in Schagticoke, will receive $12,000 in grant funding for modifications to their plumbing system and to provide handicapped accessible restrooms.
Goold Orchards, in Castleton, will receive $18,750 for construction costs associated with new handicapped access to their restroom facilities.
Riverview Orchards, in Rexford, will receive $8,810, to incorporate an agriculture and science classroom to their operations.
Spa Alpacas, in Ballston Spa, will receive $12,889 to convert one of their existing buildings into a classroom and create signage to better attract visitors to their facility.
Farmers were able to apply for one of three grant options:
STOP AND LOOK - awards up to $10,000 for creation of signs, parking areas, benches, fences, etc, to encourage sightseeing;
STOP AND VISIT - awards up to $25,000 which would help fund rest rooms, school bus turnarounds, and liability insurance to spur more formal tourist visits; and
STOP AND STAY - awards up to $50,000 for farmers seeking to provide overnight tourist accommodations such as a bed and breakfast, elder and youth hostels and dormitories.
"The NY Agritourism & Education Program has provided farms with economic opportunity that may not have been otherwise possible," said Jean Carlson of Viewmere Farm in Schagticoke. "This grant will enable our farm to begin a new endeavor that will compliment our existing operation. I would like to thank Senator Bruno for his support of this program."
Over 500 people throughout 22 New York counties expressed interest in the program. Requirements for documentation and the initial review process cut that number to 137 formal applications. A screening committee sifted through those applications, performed on-site visits, assessed need, and selected 41 initial grant recipients. The individual grants range from $3,600 to $19,500, for a total of $525,149 which was allocated for the New York Agritourism and Education Program in the SFY 02-03 budget.
"Senator Hoffmann, as Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, worked very hard to expand this program from seven counties in Central New York and make this program available to Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties," said Senator Bruno. "The NY Agritourism & Education Program will provide our tourists with the opportunity to learn more about our local farm industry while introducing them to the many products produced by our farmers."
The New York Agritourism & Education Program presently functions in a pilot stage in a limited number of contiguous counties and is not yet available to all regions of New York State. The program is intended to be an effective way to promote agriculture, tourism, and education, and the program must be tested and evaluated before reaching into additional territory.
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