Senator Bonacic Announces Agritourism Grant Recipient

State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope) announced today that the "Made in Sullivan County Catskills" project submitted by the Sullivan County Visitor's Association was awarded $50,000 to expand its promotion of the County's farm markets and locally grown farm produce.

"It is a pleasure to announce this grant. The staff of the Sullivan County Visitor's Center, particularly, Roberta Lockwood, work very hard at promoting the county and it is nice to see that the New York State Senate and the Department of Agriculture have also acknowledged those efforts by awarding this grant," stated Senator Bonacic.

Senator Bonacic said that the Sullivan County Visitors Association and the Cornell Cooperative Extension have for the last three years produced a brochure promoting the County's farm markets. The brochure, even with limited resources, has proven very successful in allowing summer visitors the opportunity to enjoy farm fresh produce. Expanding these efforts will further the economic benefit that partnering agriculture and tourism can reach.

President and CEO of the Visitor's Association, Roberta Lockwood stated, "I am delighted to learn that the Sullivan County Visitors Association has been selected to receive this Agri-Tourism grant. The Association has partnered with Cooperative Extension for several years to enhance the positioning of "Made in Sullivan County Catskills Products". This grant opportunity will allow us to market this program and create new collateral material to reach our consumers. We applaud the foresight of the Senate for providing this incentive to encourage such partnerships with New York State’s top two largest industries. The Catskill Region has the ability to provide additional marketing dimensions to this project through the new e-tourism kiosks that Senator Bonacic made available through the SCVA to enhance tourism expenditures to the Catskill Region."

"Agriculture is such an important component of Sullivan County's economy, as is tourism. Putting the two together is certain to be beneficial to not only farming and tourism, but to the health and well-being of our communities," concluded Senator Bonacic.

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