From Staff Reports, 11/21/21
New York State’s first female governor is a busy lady. Based on the travel schedule and events that her press office provides to the media, her work ethic is impressive. She might have a breakfast event in Buffalo and a lunch event Manhattan, followed by speaking at a dinner in Syracuse. Everyday of the week is with hustle in the Hochul administration.
Just in the last few days you can read the work Governor Hochul is doing in New York State:
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $6 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR ANIMAL SHELTER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced over $6 million is available to support critical upgrades at New York’s animal shelters. This is the fourth round of funding for New York State’s Companion Animal Capital Fund, which helps eligible organizations to make major improvements to their facilities to enhance animal care and health. For the first time, shelters that have previously been awarded funding through this program and that have completed their projects are eligible to apply again. Additionally, a portion of the funds is dedicated to organizations in regions where there is insufficient shelter capacity for pets.
“During the pandemic, the number of pet adoptions skyrocketed, demonstrating just how important animal care organizations are in our world for both humans and animals alike,” Governor Hochul said. “This latest round of the Companion Animal Capital Funding will help strengthen New York’s shelters by providing employees and volunteers the tools and resources they need to help the animals in their care all year round.”
Today’s announcement brings the total dedicated to the program to more than $20 million since 2017. Since the launch of the program, 41 projects have been awarded across New York State and 20 projects have been fully completed.
The Companion Animal Capital Fund is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The program provides competitive matching grants to offset the costs associated with capital projects, allowing for better care and improved environments for animals that are housed in local shelters. Funds are available to eligible incorporated and municipal animal shelters, pounds, and humane societies. Grants can be used to construct, renovate, rehabilitate, or acquire buildings and equipment needed to house, treat, and care for sheltered dogs and cats.
Two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) have been released through Round 4 of this program:
- RFP 0255:
- $4.25 million is available to award grants between $50,000 and $500,000 to municipal and incorporated not-for-profit pounds, shelters and humane societies that are operated by or under contract with a municipality.
- Entities that have been awarded funds during previous Companion Animal Capital Projects funding opportunities are eligible to apply for an award under this RFP. Previously funded projects must be complete before an entity can apply for an award.
- $4.25 million is available to award grants between $50,000 and $500,000 to municipal and incorporated not-for-profit pounds, shelters and humane societies that are operated by or under contract with a municipality.
- RFP 0258:
- $1.8 million is available to award grants between $50,000 and $200,000 to pounds, shelters or humane societies that are not operated by or under contract with a municipality but that are registered with the Department.
All applicants must apply through Grants Gateway by 4:00 pm on January 25, 2022. More details on eligibility and how to apply can be found at agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES LIGHTING OF NYS LANDMARKS TO MARK TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Thirteen Landmarks To Be Lit Pink, White And Light Blue
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State landmarks will be lit pink, white, and light blue today, November 20, 2021, in remembrance of Transgender people nationwide.
“We light New York’s landmarks tonight to remember those precious lives we have lost and reflect upon the violence perpetrated against transgender, gender nonconforming and nonbinary individuals just for being who they are,” Governor Hochul said. “Here in New York, we are committed to being a place where transgender individuals can experience the values of belonging, respect, and dignity. As Governor, I will continue fighting for our transgender community, to build a New York where every one of us can live free from fear of discrimination or violence.”
The landmarks to be lit in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance include:
- One World Trade Center
- Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
- Kosciuszko Bridge
- The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
- State Education Building
- Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
- State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
- Niagara Falls
- The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
- Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
- Albany International Airport Gateway
- The Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex
- MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS LEGISLATION CODIFYING THE NOURISH NEW YORK PROGRAM INTO LAW
S.4892-A/A.5781-A Permanently Creates the Nourish NY Program in Agriculture & Markets Law
Governor Kathy Hochul today, in Corona, Queens, signed legislation S.4892-A/A.5781-A enshrining the Nourish New York program permanently in state law. The signing of this legislation comes just before the Thanksgiving holiday, reaffirming New York’s commitment to providing support to those facing food insecurity across the state.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented hardship to so many New Yorkers and made the situations for those already struggling even worse,” Governor Hochul said. “The implementation of the Nourish NY program was a huge success in helping those facing food insecurity while also benefiting New York’s farms. As we get ready to celebrate the holidays, I am proud to sign this legislation to ensure our state will continue to combat hunger and provide for those in need.”
The Nourish New York initiative reroutes New York’s surplus agricultural products to the populations who need them most through the state’s food banks. The program also provides much-needed support for the food producers and farmers who have lost markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic because the state’s food banks are buying agricultural products from New York farmers and food processors.
Through three rounds of the program, New York’s food banks have purchased over 35 million pounds of New York food products, which equates to 29,800,000 meals. In this fourth round, to date, New York’s food banks have purchased 6,903,366 pounds of food, creating an additional 5,752,805 meals for households in need. A total of $85 million has been committed to Nourish NY since its launch in May 2020. Nourish NY food purchases have positively impacted 4,178 businesses across the state. Learn more about Nourish NY here.
