30 Businesses Awarded +$316,000 in Tourism Grants

County Executive Ed Day and Director of Economic Development and Tourism Jenna Nazario announced a record-breaking $316,000 in tourism grants on Friday, awarding funding to 30 organizations dedicated to promoting Rockland County as a premier destination.

“Tourism is a powerful driver of economic growth—it creates jobs, boosts local businesses, and enhances community infrastructure,” said County Executive Ed Day. “Since 2014, Rockland County’s sales tax revenue has consistently increased every year, except for 2020 due to the pandemic shutdowns. This achievement is a testament to our strategic investments in our local economy through targeted grants such as this, enabling us to transform a $138 million deficit into a thriving surplus.”

That revitalization has allowed the County to implement several measures to ease financial burdens on families dealing with record-high inflation and soaring gas prices. Those measures include:

• Two consecutive 2% County Property Tax Cuts, following two years of zero County Property Tax increase
• Continuing to waive our bus fare for riders since the pandemic
• Repealed the energy tax at the end of 2022 saving families $12 million annually, equivalent to an 8.4% County Property Tax cut.

The average household in Rockland would have to pay an additional $618 in yearly property taxes to maintain current services if not for tourism-generated sales and local taxes. In 2023, tourism also generated 6,860 jobs in Rockland County and $556 million in visitor spending, an 8.4% increase over 2022.

“Tourism-driven economic development is a vital force in sustaining Rockland County’s growth, prosperity, and overall quality of life,” said Economic Development and Tourism Director Jenna Nazario. “The organizations receiving these grants today will have the opportunity to highlight Rockland’s unique attractions, draw in visitors, and further strengthen our local economy.”

The county-funded grants are competitive, and performance expectations are attached to every dollar awarded.

See below list of grant recipients:

• Rockland Rowing: $8,000.00

• Visit Nyack: $30,000.00

• United Latin Festival: $8,000.00

• Friends of Orangetown: $5,000.00

• Haverstraw Brick Museum: $8,000.00

• Suffern Chamber: $10,000.00

• The Angel Nyack: $9,000.00

• Rockland Fashion Week: $4,000.00

• Rockland Music Festival: $10,000.00

• Garner Industrial: $20,000.00

• Round Table Brewery: $10,000.00

• Rockland Pride Center: $5,000.00

• India Cultural Arts Society: $6,000.00

• Phoenix Theatre Ensemble: $8,000.00

• Penguin Players: $15,250.00

• Rockland Center for the Arts: $12,500.00

• RCC Hospitality & Culinary Arts: $12,000.00

• ArtsRock: $11,000.00

• BRIDGEMUSIK: $2,000.00

• Chiku Awali: $5,000.00

• Gran Fondo: $8,000.00

• Hopper House: $15,000.00

• NY Boulders: $15,000.00

• Holocaust Museum: $15,000.00

• Rockland Historical Society: $5,000.00

• Haverstraw River Arts: $8,000.00

• Haverstraw African American Connection: $15,000.00

• Emotions Theatre: $5,000.00

• Nanuet Chamber: $12,000.00

• Friends of Harmony Hall: $20,000.00