County non-profits to receive grants
ALBANY COUNTY, N.Y. » Chairman of the Albany County Legislature, Sean Ward, recently announced grant funding for 33 non-profit organizations around the county including in Watervliet and Green Island.
Ward and other elected officials presented checks to each organization from throughout the county and each of the grants ranged from $1,000 to $5,000.
Watervliet Little League received grant funds to help pay for a new loud speaker system and the Green Island American Legion Post received funds to purchase a public announcement system.
“The Legislature is pleased to again have funds in its part of the county budget to reward these very deserving community organizations that applied for muchneeded funding,” Ward said.
County officials are also thrilled that they are able to provide grants to so many local organizations while at the same time being able to pass three straight annual budgets without a tax increase.
“The Legislature is a strong steward of taxpayers’ money,” Ward said. “We’ve passed three straight annual budgets without a tax increase, while setting aside grant funding for the communities we serve.
The grants will also help improve public safety. They will pay for portable radios for the Verdoy Fire Dept. of Latham; smart dummies for training scenarios at Shaker Road Loudonville FD Station 2; equipment for renovations at the McKownville Fire Department in Guilderland; a radio, battery and charger for the Latham Fire Department; and thermal image cameras for the Westmere Fire District in Guilderland.
The grants will assist veterans groups. Funding will help the VFW Post 9594 in Ravena refurbish an unfinished cellar; the Green Island American Legion Post purchase a public announcement system; and the Colonie VFW Post 8692 buy flooring,
paint, sheetrock and cabinets.
The grants support several youth sports programs. They finance building and field maintenance for the Colonie Little League; two dugouts for the Guilderland Babe Ruth Baseball; a new loudspeaker system for the Watervliet Little League; new equipment for the Colonie Soccer Club; field improvements for the Latham Lassies; a kick wall for the Latham Circle Soccer Club; helmets for the Colonie Pop Warner Football; roof repairs and netting for Westland Hills; trail grooming for the Mystery Lake Trail Riders Snowmobile Club of Ravena; and a lacrosse program at Youth LIFE Support Network, Inc of Albany.
Also funded were new chairs for the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society of Menands; adoption supplies and information for Happy Cat Rescue, Inc. of Guilderland Center; equipment and supplies to aid in the removal of water chestnuts near the Colonie Town Park recreational area through the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy; a product for the Washington Park Conservancy of Albany to fight the threat of the Emerald Ash Borer; rugs for the South End Neighborhood Tutors/The Wizard’s Wardrobe of Albany; camping equipment for the St. Pius Boy Scout Troop 1078 of Loudonville; building repairs for Division 1 AOH of Watervliet; interior repairs to the Friends of Schoolcraft House of Guilderland; education counseling for 100 Black Men of Albany; programs at Counseling Care & Services, Inc., of Cohoes; summer youth programs in Westerlo and Rensselaerville; technology upgrades at The Arbor Hill Development Corporation of Albany; field trips for children at the Riverview Summer Day Camp of Coeymans; and technical upgrades for the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce.