Downtown

State panel doles out $1 million in grants, Brooklyn benefits

Brooklyn Arts Council among recipients

December 24, 2013 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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Arts groups, health care centers and a sports facility in southwest Brooklyn will all receive grants from the New York State Regional Economic Development Council, which is handing out the funding in an effort to boost business in the borough.

The Brooklyn Arts Council, which will receive $100,000, was one of five recipients of the grants from the state panel. The other grant winners are: Lutheran Family Health Center ($179,618), the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Technology Center ($125,000), Marine Park Golf Course ($502,900) and New York Polytechnic University ($125,000).

The council awarded more than $1 million in grants.

State Sen. Marty Golden (R-C-Bay Ridge-southern Brooklyn), a member of the council, said the grants will further the state’s efforts “to create a more business and environmentally friendly community for people to live, work, and raise a family.”

The Brooklyn Arts Council will use its grant for its Creative Coalition Initiative, aimed at creating an arts infrastructure. Lutheran Family Health Centers is putting the funding toward the Sunset Park/AmeriCorps program, an adult education endeavor and job readiness center.

SUNY Downstate Technology Center is using its funding to help start-up businesses through its business incubator. NYU Polytechnic is also putting its funding towards a business start-up center.

The Marine Part Golf Course is installing a rainwater harvesting system to reduce stormwater runoff.

“Across the board, these grants will go a long way in supporting projects for the arts, education and for our natural resources,” Golden said. “We must continue to develop Brooklyn, and New York City, so to put more people to work and keep our economy growing. I look forward to further opportunities in 2014 to build upon these accomplishments.” 

The grants were administered through the Regional Council’s New York City group. Along with Golden, other members of the New York City region group over the past few years have included Douglas Steiner, chairman of Steiner Studios, Kathryn Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York City and and Steve Hindy, president of Brooklyn Brewery.

There are 10 regional councils across New York State. The councils were created in 2010 by Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was seeking to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions.

The councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations.

Since their inception three years ago, the regional councils have worked to produce innovative plans to reflect the distinct characteristics of each of the 10 regions of the state, officials said.

This year marked the third round of funding.

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