News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For more information contact: Tara Sullivan, 518-402-8565

State Accepting Grant Applications for Quadricentennial

Grants Available for Projects that Commemorate NY’s 400th Anniversary

ALBANY, NY (07/31/2008; 1105)(readMedia)-- The state is now accepting applications through Sept. 3, 2008, for Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial (HFCQ) grant projects. The Quadricentennial will spotlight the Hudson Valley, Lake Champlain and New York City's history and culture.

Funding in the amount of $1 million is currently available from the Environmental Protection Fund for HFCQ grants. Eligible applicants include municipalities and not-for-profit organizations and may request funding at the minimum amount of $1,000 up to the maximum amount of $50,000. Matching funds are not required.

HFCQ executive staff, working in partnership with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is actively soliciting grant applications primarily for projects, programs, events and celebrations dedicated to the commemoration of New York State's 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage and Samuel DeChamplain's voyage, and the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's successful steamboat voyage. Additionally, grants are available to projects that directly honor and celebrate these historic events, projects that also celebrate the Quadricentennial themes of "Explore New York" and "Celebrating 400 Years of Discovery in Education, Energy, Environment and Innovation" will also be considered.

The HFCQ grant program specifically seeks to achieve or support the following or similar types of projects: museum and/or cultural institution exhibits; music and performing arts performances; sporting and/or outdoor events; films and documentaries; educational and/or curriculum projects; or publications and book projects.

To be considered an eligible for this grant, the project must be entirely located within New York State, and must be within the Champlain Valley, the Hudson Valley, the New York Harbor vicinity (including the five boroughs), or more specifically within the confines of the following counties: Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Essex and Clinton.

The Explore NY 400 commemoration of 2009 will stimulate and encourage:

• Local, national and international tourism to New York City, the Hudson Valley and Lake Champlain regions.
• Development of educational curriculum in the schools and throughout New York State.
• Celebration of the multiculturalism of the Hudson Valley, Lake Champlain and New York City regions.
• The program of continuing to preserve open space, parks and access from Lake Champlain to NY Harbor.
• Economic and tourism opportunities.

For application information contact: Tara Sullivan, Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial located at NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233. Applications are available on-line and can be downloaded and filled in at: http://www.dec.ny.gov or for a copy of the application you may contact Tara Sullivan at (518) 402-8565.

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