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Rockland County Has A Long History Of Being Left Out Of Mid-Hudson Regional Grant Awards
Last month, New York State awarded $10 million to support animal shelter improvements, including funding that supports construction, renovation and expansion projects that enhance animal care and health at New York animal shelters. None of that money was awarded in Rockland County.
Last week, Governor Hochul announced more than $82 million in capital funding to non-profit arts and cultural organizations. 132 projects were funded with the goal of strengthening arts infrastructure across the state. The new investments are targeted toward boosting local economies, expanding access to the arts and supporting job creation. None of that money was awarded in Rockland County.
Rockland has historically received the short end of the stick in grant awards from the state. In previous reporting, RCBJ explored infrastructure grants, funding for housing, and economic growth and found Rockland County regularly comes up short in grant awards.
Companion Animal Capital Project
In Orange County, three shelters received funding: The Warwick Valley Humane Society received $90,000 to install an emergency generator for their facility, and Pets Alive in the Town of Wallkill received $376,715 to construct space to house and shelter cats. The City of Newburgh received $500,000 toward new shelter construction.
Statewide 31 organizations (both government and other non-profits) received funding from the Companion Animal Capital Project. Awards to shelters were based on a need assessment, detailed project description, and reasonableness of cost.
Rockland Green did not receive any funding toward construction of its $19 million shelter located off Beach Road in West Haverstraw.
In less than one year, Rockland Green has authorized increases of nearly $1 million in “change orders” to cover increased or unexpected costs related to construction of its new animal shelter. In Dec. 2024, Rockland Green awarded the $14,774,900 construction contract to O’Connor Company, a North Carolina contractor that had never built an animal shelter. O’Connor was not the low bidder and was chosen over several local contractors, including at least a few with animal shelter experience.
In 2024, Rockland Green purchased a vacant 14,000 square-foot warehouse on Ecology Road in West Haverstraw for $3.8 million with plans for convert it into a 28,000 square-foot shelter.
The $14.774 million contract with O’Connor has ballooned by $940,000 to $15.714 million, a 6.4 percent increase. The change orders vary widely in substance from upgrades to the electrical systems, HVAC systems, revisions to the drainage systems and foundation, and changes to the water and fire mains.
New York State Council on the Arts FY2026 Capital Projects
Of the 132 projects funded, 23 of the 132 projects awarded non-profit capital funding were in the Mid-Hudson Region. Awards were given in all 10 regions of New York State, with 77 percent of the grants awarded to organizations with budgets under $3 million.
The 23 Mid-Hudson region projects received over $8.3 million, with the lion’s share going to non-profit groups in Westchester (six projects, $4.56 million) and Ulster County (eight projects, $2.66 million). The other counties in the Mid-Hudson region shared the balance of the funding. No Rockland projects were funded.
The largest awards went to MorBallet, Inc., receiving $2 million dollars in funding to build out the MorDance Community Performing Arts Center in Dobbs Ferry. The Huguenot Historical Society in New Paltz also received $2 million toward a new education and visitors center. Historic Hudson Valley scored $1.987 million toward its Philipsburg Manor Visitor Center Roof and Infrastructure upgrades in Westchester.
A complete list of grant recipients can be found here.
County Infrastructure Grant Program
Last July, RCBJ reported that the state awarded $36 million in infrastructure grants supporting 48 unique projects through the statewide County Infrastructure Grant Program.
In the Mid-Hudson region, every county except Rockland received funding for programs designed to spur additional housing opportunities or support economic growth.
In that round, Dutchess County received $1 million, Orange County $1 million, Putnam County received $500,000, Ulster County received $1 million, Westchester County received $1 million and Sullivan County received $288,426.
And, in 2025, RCBJ reported that Rockland County lagged behind other counties in the Mid-Hudson Region on state awards and grants through the REDC for the past three years despite having the third largest economy and third largest population in the region.
In a 2025 financing round, Rockland had many eligible projects, but four of the five towns in Rockland have declined to participate in New York State’s Pro-Housing Community Program, which incentivizes municipalities to adopt pro-housing policies and streamline development. Ramapo is the only participating town. The villages of Nyack and Haverstraw are also certified Pro-Housing Communities. Spring Valley, New Square and Kaser have submitted letters of intent to participate but are not certified.
Municipalities that do not participate are barred from receiving grants or awards under many New York State programs, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), the NY Forward program, the Regional Council Capital Fund, capital projects from the Market New York program, the New York Main Street program, the Long Island Investment Fund (LIIF), the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund, and the Public Transportation Modernization Enhancement Program (MEP).
