$500,000 in grants will be awarded to communities in the Adirondacks to enhance business development and access to the State’s newly-acquired former Finch, Pruyn & Co. lands.

The Adirondack Park Upper Hudson Recreation Hub grants, provided by The Nature Conservancy, will be used to fund nine projects designed to increase tourism opportunities, support small business growth, and expand recreational offerings with an overall goal of strengthening the region’s local economy and supporting jobs.

The Adirondack Park Upper Hudson Recreation Hub grants support business-oriented community development projects ranging from equipping a new guide service in Newcomb and inflatable kayak trips on the Upper Hudson River, to establishing equestrian staging areas in North Hudson and Long Lake. To promote emerging opportunities for recreation and tourism-related businesses in the area, Essex County will establish a microenterprise grant program using a portion of the grant funding.

The Adirondack Park Upper Hudson Recreation Hub Grants are administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the New York Natural Heritage Trust. The grants include:

• $100,000 to the Town of Newcomb for equipment to be used by a local guide service, Newcomb Guides Service LLC, to provide a shuttle service and guided fishing, hunting, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, camping and canoe/kayak trips into the backcountry. These services would primarily be within the Essex Chain Lakes, Upper Hudson River and, in the future, Boreas Ponds
• $30,000 to the Town of Newcomb to install horse stables at the High Peaks Kitchen and Campground that can be used by visitors to the area.
• $13,250 to the Town of Johnsburg for equipment to be used by a local guide service, North Creek Rafting Company LLC, to provide guided inflatable kayak trips on the Upper Hudson River between Newcomb and the confluence with the Indian River. This trip is suitable for beginners and is made possible by take-outs at two locations south of Newcomb – the iron bridge about seven miles from the Lake Harris put-in and the Indian River property, upstream of the confluence of the Hudson and Indian Rivers and the heavy whitewater of the Hudson Gorge.
• $356,750 to Essex County for partnership projects that leverage previous planning efforts, including the Adirondack Parkwide Recreation Strategies, Hamlets 3 and local community comprehensive plans:
  • Essex County Industrial Development Agency – Microenterprise Grant Program
    The program will provide assistance to eligible expanding or startup micro-enterprises that will serve and attract visitors to the Upper Hudson Recreation Hub. The program will offer access to capital to help businesses modernize and improve goods and services, become more sustainable and create and retain jobs.
  • Town of Indian Lake – Indian Lake Core Improvements and Acquisition
    The grants will be used to acquire and demolish a targeted downtown building, and install water and sewer infrastructure for future development of the parcel. This will help Indian Lake enhance its downtown area by creating a development district that will have great potential for commercial, residential and cultural redevelopment, plus infrastructure and business improvements.
  • Town of Long Lake – Equestrian Pole Barn and Staging Area
    The grant will be used to construct an equestrian staging area at the trailhead to an existing equestrian trail, which will allow the Town of Long Lake to take advantage of expanding and new horseback riding trails and opportunities. The staging area will be designed with the flexibility to accommodate other recreational activities.
  • Town of Minerva – Minerva Lake Campground Upgrades and Expansion
    The grant will fund improvements to visitor services at the Town of Minerva-owned campground through the installation of water and electrical hookups, creation of new full-service campsites and installation of a new dumping station and new, high-efficiency LED lighting.
  • Town of Newcomb – Information Center Upgrades & Implementation of Marketing Plan
    The Town of Newcomb will use the grant funding to make improvements to its Hudson River Information Center and implement a multi-phased marketing and branding strategy.
  • Town of North Hudson – Route 9 Multi-Use Trail Access Improvements
    The Town of North Hudson will create trailhead parking and equestrian facilities to access State lands via an extensive system of multi-use trails located on municipal property on the east and west sides of NYS Route 9.

Photo: The Essex Chain (by Nancie Battaglia).