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Rockland County Has The Third Largest Economy And Third Largest Population In The Mid-Hudson Region But Lags In Grant Awards
Every year, businesses, non-profits, and public entities in the Mid-Hudson Region vie for millions in grants and awards from various New York State agencies.
It remains unclear as to why Rockland County gets such a small slice of the pie, compared to other contenders (Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, Dutchess and Sullivan) in the Mid-Hudson Region given that the county has the third largest economy and the third largest population, according to recent government data.
In the most recent year (Round 14, 2024), of the 85 awards given in the Mid-Hudson Region, Rockland received only seven. Of the approximately $55 million awarded, Rockland received only $1.339 million, about 2 percent of the total, less than any other county by far.
The awards, administered through ten Regional Economic Development Councils throughout New York State, process applications from Consolidated Funding Applications (CFAs), which are available annually, though there are times when applications can be submitted on an ongoing or rolling basis, with new awards and grants given.
Municipalities, nonprofits, manufacturers, and others compete for the awards, not just against other regions of the state, but within the seven counties comprising the Mid-Hudson Region.
Applicants put their best foot forward in CFA applications, including letters of support, economic analyses, and projections of new and retained jobs, as well as other benefits. Members of the REDC, and local government and economic development authorities lobby for grant awards for applications in their county. Rockland’s four representatives are: Sabrina HoSang Jordan, Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Food Delights; Matt Rand, CEO, Howard Hanna | Rand Realty; Robin E. Rosenberg, President & CEO, GARNER Historic District; and Al Samuels, President & CEO, Rockland Business Association.
The representatives declined to provide comment in several emails.
In the most recent round, the awards went to the Town of Ramapo for a new vacuum truck ($325,000) and repairs to its salt storage facility ($420,000). BRIDGES received a grant for technology upgrades ($44,573). The Holocaust Museum received money for outdoor educational displays ($100,000). Benin Academy in Haverstraw was awarded funds to expand its pre-school, nursery and daycare programs ($100,000). New Square’s Community Improvement Council received funds to improve its daycare facility ($99,000). And, ADH Health Products received funds to expand its manufacturing facility ($250,000).
Rockland’s meager slice of the pie is not an anamoly. A look at data published by the REDC and New York State reveals Rockland has received the short-end of the stick for the past three years.
In Round 13 (2023), Rockland received about $2.4 million of the $25 million awarded, according to published REDC records, the third lowest of the seven counties. Only Sullivan and Putnam fared worse.
In Round 12 (2022), Rockland received just over $1 million of the nearly $40 million awarded, dead last in awards with only about 2 percent of the total awarded.
When RCBJ reached out to our REDC representatives for explanations and comments, the query was referred to the REDC offices. An REDC representative did not provide any clarity or data, despite several attempts to learn whether Rockland County had fewer applicants, or whether fewer grants were awarded proportionally to other counties.
Rockland’s population is the third largest in the Mid-Hudson Region, behind Orange and Westchester.
And Rockland has the third largest economy, according to United States Bureau of Economic Analysis’s most recent data published in December of 2024.
Nevertheless, Rockland receives less that its proportionate share of grants and awards through the REDC.
The REDC manages grants and awards for a number of state agencies, including: the Canalway Grant Program; the Department of State’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and its Brownfield Opportunity Area Program; the DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Project Program, Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning Grant Program, and its Climate Smart Communities Program; Empire State Development’s Small Manufacturer Modernization Program, Not-for-Profit Capital Grant Program, and its Strategic Planning and Feasibility Studies; Homes & Community Renewal’s Community Development Block Grant Program; the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Environmental Protection Fund: Parks, Preservation and Heritage Grants; and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Building Cleaner Communities Competition and its Commercial and Industrial Carbon Challenge.
