NARROWSBURG, NY — Helen Budrock, the Community Planner for Sullivan Renaissance, was at the recent Tusten Town Board meeting to present the Narrowsburg Beautification Group with the Category C Silver Feather Award of $10,000. She joked that they must be tired of her presenting them with awards, as they have won multiple in previous years, including the highest honor the Golden Feather Award in 2012.

The Silver Feather recognizes their efforts in beautifying the town, such as planting flowers along Main Street.

Budrock also announced that there is a new grant category available for 2016: the Municipal Partnership Grant Program. This new category aims to engage towns and villages in supporting volunteer beautification efforts while improving code enforcement, maintaining public spaces, enhancing gateways and addressing other issues.

Prospective applicants are asked to submit an expression-of-interest form no later than Monday, November 30. A limited number of municipalities will be selected to participate. A Phase I Grant offers $15,000 (match required). The Phase II Grant First Place is $100,000 (a state grant secured by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther).

Another new program is the Healthy Communities Initiative. In the past, Sullivan Renaissance offered environmental initiative grants, which helped to fund community gardens and such. It has evolved based on environmental ideas and opportunities. “We adjusted that grant program and are calling it ‘Healthy Community Initiative,’” explained Denise Frangipane, assistant director. “It allows us to be more inclusive of other things that would add to not only environmental health, but overall health of a community.” This re-imagined initiative provides grants for projects to enhance and promote the physical and environmental health of communities.

These two new grant programs are to some extent a response to Sullivan County’s low health ranking, which is second to last in the state. For more information, visit www.sullivanrenaissance.org.