County Announces 2026 Tourism Grant Awards 

New City, NY - County Executive Ed Day and Director of Economic Development and Tourism Jenna Nazario announced that 17 organizations will receive approximately $178,000 in tourism promotion grants for 2026.

These allocations follow an updated grant-review process implemented after an internal evaluation of the 2025 awards. That review identified instances of duplicate funding—where organizations received county administration and county legislature support for the same event or operational expenses—and cases where applicants could not demonstrate that past county funding produced measurable tourism impact. 

“By tightening our grant process, we’re ensuring county funds go to programs that deliver real results while still supporting the nonprofits that serve our community through the appropriate contract and 224-agency channels,” explained County Executive Ed Day.

Organizations that did not qualify for tourism-promotion grants will be redirected to funding through nonprofit contracts or as 224 agencies—avenues that better match their missions and services. Under New York County Law § 224, a “224 agency” is a nonprofit or community organization that receives County Legislature funding to provide specified public services; migrated agencies include nonprofits tasked with delivering services.

“We are working together to review each organization to make sure they are categorized and funded properly,” explained County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. “The Legislature recognizes the vital role these nonprofits play in supporting residents and enhancing quality of life across Rockland County.”

Tourism remains a critical tool in reducing the burden on local taxpayers. Without tourism‑generated sales and local taxes, the average Rockland household would pay an additional $675 annually in property taxes to maintain current services. 

The Tourism Grant Recipients are as follows: 

Visit Nyack $15,000
Nanuet Chamber $18,000
Phoenix Ensemble $8,000
Community Farm Network $10,000
NY Boulders $20,000
Emotions $5,000
Friends of Harmony Hall $11,000
Hope Wade Designs $4,000
RCC Culinary $15,000
Roundtable Brewery $15,000
United Latin Festival $8,000
Pearl River Chamber $15,000
She Got Buckets $12,000
RCC Cultural Arts Center $22,000
Total $178,000

Organizations Shifting to Migrated Agencies:

Garner Arts Center $40,000
Edward Hopper House $20,000
Rockland Historical Society $25,000
ROCA $15,000
Kinship of Ice $30,000
Total $130,000

Organizations Shifting to 224 Agencies: 

Penguin Rep Theatre $41,500
Chiku Awali African Dance $16,000
Haverstraw Brick Museum $88,000
Haverstraw River Arts Fund $39,500
ArtsRock (New 224 Agency) TBD
Total $185,000

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