#2006-22: October 24, 2006 Grants Awarded to Assist Downtowns Arkville -- The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development announced today that a dozen different communities in the Catskills have recently received grant funding through its "Main Street Micro Grant" program. Funded by Senator John J. Bonacic (R-Mt. Hope), the grant program is intended to help communities with small, attainable "bricks and mortar" projects designed to beautify their downtowns, market & advertise Main Street businesses, provide public amenities, make their downtown more pedestrian friendly, and more. In Sullivan County, Hurleyville and Mountaindale received funds to bolster their downtown beautification efforts, while Bethel and Wurstboro both received grants for new welcome signs. The Sullivan County Historical Association also received a $3,000 grant to spruce up the building and grounds at the County Museum. In Delaware County, two historic buildings - one in Roxbury and the other in Fleischmanns - received a face lift, while Sidney Center and Downsville both received grants for downtown flower barrels. Main Street Micro Grants were also distributed to finance streetscape improvements in Grand Gorge and improvements to the municipal parking lot in Hobart’s downtown. Finally, in Ulster County, the Ellenville-Wawarsing Chamber of Commerce received a $5,000 grant to construct a rustic gazebo and install benches at their festival area behind the Village Hall. In all, $37,500 was disbursed, leveraging over $160,000 in matching funds and investments in area downtowns. "It is important to the health and well-being of our communities to invest in main street improvements, and I am pleased to see this funding being used to help so many downtowns," remarked Senator Bonacic. Helen Budrock, Assistant Director of The Catskill Center said, "Our community development work is an important part of what we do, and we are grateful to Senator Bonacic for recognizing our efforts to help revitalize Main Streets throughout the region".