Senator Bonacic Announces $250,000 Grant for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County's Education Center and 4-H Park

(Middletown, NY)- State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) standing alongside Lucy Joyce, Executive Director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County, and members of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County Board of Directors, announced today that the Education Center and 4-H Park, located in the Town of Mount Hope will be receiving a $250,000 grant. The funding was secured through the Economic Development Program.

“The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County continues to do great work providing our youth  a variety of agriculture, nutrition, health, food safety, community,  economic vitality and agricultural sustainability educational programs,” said Senator Bonacic “Once fully complete, the Education Center and 4-H park will provide students in the region a state-of-the-art educational facility. I’m pleased to provide this grant to help Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County.”

Lucy Joyce, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County said, “This grant was an unexpected gift, one that we are very grateful for, as it will allow us to complete phase I of our project. In Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County’s 101st year, the future is very bright. I thank Senator Bonacic for his commitment to our organization.”

Construction on the Education Center and 4-H is taking place in 3 phases. Once completely finished, it will feature a year-round education center, environmental technology demonstration, open fenced arenas, six pole barns for livestock, a milking parlor, a big red barn, a greenhouse, a covered arena, and a camping area.