FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2023
Mayor Noble Announces Next Round of ARPA Community Events Grant Funding
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce the next round of APRA Community Events Grant Program awards for a total of $39,750 across six community groups and organizations.
The eighth round of ARPA Community Events Grant program funding was awarded to:
Stockade Faire ($5,000) for the Uptown street fair on N. Front and Wall Street on Saturday September 30;
Theatre on the Road ($5,000) for living history cemetery tours at Old Dutch Church every Saturday in October;
O+ ($15,000) for a youth-led mural tour, O+ Cycling, and O+ Wellness Expo for the O+ Festival on October 6-8;
Arts Society of Kingston ($4,750) for the Native American Heritage Arts Festival on October 7-8, 2023;
The Ulster County Italian American Foundation ($5,000) for the Italian American Festival on October 8, 2023;
Burning of Kingston ($5,000) for various events across the weekend of October 13-15, 2023;
Zev Eisenberg, co-organizer of the Stockade Faire said, “We are thankful for the ARPA Community Events grant to bring the Stockade Faire event to the community again this year. Growing and strengthening community is something we can all use more of these days—and nothing brings a more diverse crowd together in celebration like a good old fashioned street party.”
Frank Marquette of Theater on the Road said, “Theatre on the Road is very pleased to have received the ARPA Community Grant. We have been presenting ‘living history’ cemetery tours in the Old Dutch in Kingston for nine years now. This grant will allow us to expand our themes and include the voices of women who worked behind the scenes during the Burning of Kingston. It is our purpose to bring to life historic and diverse characters that made a difference locally. It is our pleasure to have our tours be a part of this year’s Burning of Kingston ceremonies.”
Aimee Gardner, Operations for O+ Festival said, “O Positive is delighted to receive ARPA funds through the City's 2023 Community Events Grant Program in support of bicycling events, mural tour, and a wellness expo for the public on October 7th. We hope that community members will join us and celebrate our 13th festival together.”
Staats Fasoldt, ASK Board President said, “The Arts Society of Kingston is delighted to receive this ARPA Community Events Grant for our Native American Festival, which manifests the beauty and power of cross-cultural interactions, education, and collaboration. The purpose of the festival is to lift up the voices of indigenous artists and leaders and to bring attention to the extraordinary opportunities opened up by new and renewed appreciation for indigenous cultures and their contributions, especially on a weekend centered on Columbus Day, which we also want to recognize as Indigenous People’s Day.”
Anthony Tampone, Festival Chair of the UC Italian Festival said, “What a joy it is to bring this much-loved festival to Kingston at our beautiful, scenic Rondout location. This year we were blessed to receive an award from Mayor Noble and the City of Kingston in partnership with the federal American Rescue Plan Act. This generous award allowed us to present some of the best entertainment available. Our local government is always searching for ways to enhance the lives and enrich the cultures of all its citizens. Sharing our Italian culture through our festival is one way that we at the Ulster County Italian American Foundation contribute to this goal. Thank you Mayor Noble and all the City employees who do so much to make our festival a success.”
Taylor Bruck, the City of Kingston Historian and Deputy Ulster County Clerk said, “The Burning of Kingston was an event I always looked forward to as a kid. It helped foster my love of local history and of Kingston. I was sad to see it dwindle during the pandemic, and it was a struggle to get it back on its feet, but with the ARPA funding we were able to revive it and build momentum towards the 250th anniversary in 2027. Huge kudos and thanks to Mayor Steve Noble and the ARPA team for helping keep local history alive!”
The 2023 Community Events Grant Program is made possible with Federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The City has allocated $375,000 to support local events occurring in 2023 as part of city-wide pandemic recovery efforts.
Nonprofit groups and businesses located within City limits are eligible to apply for up to five events per year at up to $5,000 per event, for a total of up to $25,000 per organization. Events must be free and open to the public.
Events must take place in 2023, and must have either previously taken place prior to 2020, or if new, not duplicate pre-existing events and focus primarily on youth and families as the target audience. Preference will be shown to applications for events that focus primarily on youth and families as well as those that draw audiences from diverse backgrounds.
Funding is available for events taking place through the end of December 2023. Grant applications will be accepted through Friday, November 1, 2023. The last eligible event date is December 31, 2023.
More information, a list of eligible expenses, and the application can be found at: www.engagekingston.com/arpa-community-events-grant-program.