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ShopRite Donates Record Setting $140,883 to Support Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley
ShopRite announced that its annual Make-A-Wish® fundraising campaign raised $140,883.55 to benefit Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley. Twenty-seven ShopRite stores throughout the Hudson Valley collected donations at checkout from April 14 – April 27. The funds raised will help support Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley and its mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Since its inception in 1986, Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley has granted more than 3,200 wishes for children in the Hudson Valley region. To date, ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. has raised over $930,000 for Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley.
“ShopRite Supermarkets is honored to partner with Make-A-Wish of Hudson Valley,” said Steve Savas, President & Chief Executive Officer, ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. “This organization that does such important work for exceptional children and who shares our commitment to make a difference in the communities in which we operate. We look forward to the future continuing our successful fundraising and supporting of Make-A-Wish of Hudson Valley.”
“We are extremely grateful for ShopRite’s generosity and support of our chapter through the years,” said Kristine Burton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley. “In total, over the last eight years, ShopRite has raised over $930,000 for our chapter, which is equivalent to granting about 93 wishes. Together, with the help of ShopRite and its customers, we are able to make more wishes come true for many more children and their families.”
Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley serves eight counties in New York including Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Since its founding in 1986, they have granted over 3,200 wishes for children in the community so far and currently have close to 200 wishes in the pipeline waiting to be granted; the chapter expects to grant 140 wishes by the end of August, the most in their chapter history.
Three Hudson Valley Towns Receive DRI Awards
One headline projects is in Port Jervis, which got $9.7 million from the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, an economic development awards program that communities across the state compete to receive.
The state also announced seven projects for the town of Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson in Orange County for a total of $4.5 million, and five projects for the village of Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County totaling $4.5 million. that will be funded via NY Forward, which targets smaller, rural communities to help enliven their downtowns. Cornwall and Sleepy Hollow were the Mid-Hudson Region recipients in the first round of NY Forward funding.
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all 10 regions of New York. In the first seven rounds of the DRI, the state has committed $800 million to projects in 81 downtowns.
In 2021, the Village of Haverstraw won $10 million to develop a strategic investment plan and implement key projects that advance the community’s vision. “We think money can be spent there on infrastructure to design and build both a residential and commercial project down at the foot of Main Street,” Kohut said at the time, referring to the revival of the former Chair Factory on the Hudson River.
NY Forward was created in 2022 to revitalize smaller and rural communities throughout the state. In its two rounds of funding so far, the state has committed $200 million to 43 smaller and rural downtowns. The Orange County villages of Highland Falls and Montgomery won NY Forward funding in its second round, announced earlier this year, and are developing investment plans.
Both programs are led by the state Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, the Division of Homes and Community Renewal and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Highlights from the Cornwall awards include $773,000 to restore the historic Storm King Theater, $649,000 to preserve historic structures at Donahue Farm for public programming, and $480,000 to build a trail along Dock Hill Road connecting the waterfront to Donahue Farm and downtown Cornwall. There is also a $300,000 award for a small business fund to assist local businesses.
Highlights for the Sleepy Hollow projects, include $1.5 million to renovate Strand Theatre into a multipurpose performance venue, $500,000 for an affordable housing project at 100 College Ave., and $300,000 for a downtown facade renovation fund.
Top targets for Port Jervis include $2.66 million to enhance Riverside Park by reconstructing the water tower to include a “Welcome to Port Jervis” sign and developing a new pavilion, an all-inclusive playground, a stage, and amphitheater, pickleball courts, a basketball court, a skatepark, and a minigolf course. And $522,000 to build a co-working space, studios and event, gallery, retail, and cafe space at 22 Jersey Avenue while $350,000 will be allocated for a placemaking program to include marketing, branding, digital media, wayfinding signage and public realm improvements.
Think Dutchess Alliance For Business Wins Economic Development Organization Award
Think Dutchess Alliance for Business has been named a winner of the Business Facilities 2024 Economic Development Organization (EDO).
Awards in the category of mid-sized EDO (pop. 100K-500K) recognize efforts in fostering partnerships between industry and education. The award-winning entry, titled “A Winning Partnership,” highlights the transformative impact of collaborative initiatives in Dutchess County.
Business Facilities developed the annual EDO Awards to honor organizations that demonstrate excellence in economic development initiatives and drive growth and prosperity in their respective communities.
Dutchess County has emerged as a thriving hub for innovation and collaboration, with a focus on cultivating a skilled workforce to support its industries. Key stakeholders, including IBM, onsemi, eMagin Corporation and MPI, Inc., have made substantial investments in the region, solidifying Dutchess County’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and technology.
At the heart of Dutchess County’s success lies a strategic partnership between Dutchess Community College (DCC), Think Dutchess Alliance for Business, the Council of Industry, local manufacturers and other local organizations and businesses. Each partner plays a pivotal role in the execution of initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between industry needs and educational opportunities.
“The Mechatronics Lab exemplifies the power of collaboration between industry and education,” said Sarah Lee, CEO of Think Dutchess Alliance for Business. “It serves as a testament to what can be achieved when stakeholders come together with a shared vision for economic growth and workforce development.”
Beyond the Mechatronics Lab, partnerships between industry and education have become a cornerstone of the Dutchess County community. Collaborations such as the one between the Culinary Institute of America and Asahi Shuzo have resulted in the establishment of Dassai Blue, the first Japanese sake brewery on the U.S. East Coast. Similarly, onsemi’s partnership with Dutchess Community College and Dutchess Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) has paved the way for career paths in advanced manufacturing and engineering.
