
ALBANY, N.Y. – Discover Albany announced $48,000 in funding for latest round of Hospitality Grant recipients. The Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Foundation has awarded $260,000 over the last four years, to organizations that create programs and tourist-attracting events in our community.
The fund, which is managed by the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region (CFGCR), supports programs that aid in building and sustaining Albany County tourism destinations, attractions, events, and tourism-related activities. The grants encourage collaboration between nonprofit organizations, community groups, and hospitality businesses to further extend the economic impact of tourism and business.
“We are immensely proud of our ongoing efforts to support the organizations that create programs right here in our community,” says Michele Vennard, President/CEO of the ACCVB. “These organizations are part of what makes this such an interesting place to visit, and that in turn drives our local economy. These groundbreaking programs contribute to the richness of our area.”
“The Community Foundation is proud to work with the ACCVB on the Hospitality Grant Program,” said John G. Eberle, President and CEO, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. “The grant awards given through this program strengthen our region’s nonprofits, and help make Albany County more vibrant for residents and visitors. On behalf of the Community Foundation’s staff and Board of Directors, I extend my sincere congratulations to all 2017 Hospitality Grant recipients.”
The grants, which will be used for programming in next year and range from $1,000 - $5,000, are funded through the earned income of the Bureau. This year’s recipients include Albany Symphony Orchestra, Old Songs, Albany Institute of History & Art, Park Playhouse, Palace Theatre, Shaker Heritage Society, African American Cultural Center, and Capital Repertory Theatre.
"As a recipient of the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Foundation grant the Shaker Heritage Society will be able to introduce our visitors to a unique and nationally significant aspect of this region’s cultural heritage,” says Starlyn D’Angelo, Executive Director for the Shaker Heritage Society. “Having the opportunity to work with a professional production company and to use the latest video technology will ensure optimal engagement with our audience. We are very grateful for the support of the ACCVB and for this great opportunity to enhance the visitor experience at Albany's historic Shaker Site."
"We are always grateful for the support of ACCVB, and proud to be a 2017 Hospitality Grant recipient,” says Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill, Producing Artistic Director for the Capital Repertory Theatre. “This will help us continue to grow and create further cultural opportunities for residents of and visitors to downtown Albany. Further, we thank Michelle Vennard for all her great contributions to the vitality of our city."
The 2017 Grant Recipients Are:
Albany Symphony Orchestra, $2,500
2018 American Music Festival
Capital Nordic Region Alliance, Inc. $2000
Nordic on New Scotland
Old Songs, Inc. $2000
Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music and Dance
Albany Center Galleries, $2,500
Visual Arts Exhibits
Albany Institute of History & Art, $5000
2018 Hudson River School Exhibition Out of Area Promotion
Park Playhouse, $5000
Expanding 30th Anniversary Season Programming
Shaker Heritage Society, $4500
Shaker Heritage Introductory Visitor Video
International Center for the Capital Region, $2500
Welcome program for international visitors
African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, $2500
Restoration Building Upgrade Project: Phase 1
Albany Barn, Inc. $3000
Marketing and Outreach for 2018 Theatre Season at The Barn
Capital Repertory Theatre, $5000
theREP at Livingston Square – Planning and Design
Five Rivers Limited, $2500
Nature’s Accessible Backyard Trail and Wildlife Garden Project – Phase 1
Friends of Pruyn House, $1500
Exterior Lighting Study to Assess Pathway, Parking Lot and Exterior Lighting
Palace Performing Arts Center, Inc. $5000
Growing Group Sales and Economic Partnerships
Steamer No. 10 Theatre, Inc. $2500
Theatrical Lighting System Replacement
For more information about the grant recipients and awards, please contact Michele Vennard, President/CEO of the ACCVB, at (518) 434-1217 ext. 300 or mvennard@albany.org; or Jacqueline Mahoney, Vice President of Programs at the CFGCR, at (518) 446-9638 or jmahoney@cfgcr.org.
ABOUT Discover Albany
The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. was established in 1976 to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community through increased development of conventions and tourism. Today, the organization is known as Discover Albany. Discover Albany currently represents more than 300 member businesses and assists each year in hundreds of regional meetings. Discover Albany also operates the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany International Airport Information Center. The Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Foundation was established in 1993 to provide educational opportunities and work with other organizations to secure grants and funding to advance regional travel and tourism projects. For more information, call 518-434-1217 or 800-258-3582 or visit www.albany.org.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION
Since 1968, The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region has provided an effective means for people who care about this community to be part of shaping its future. The Community Foundation offers donors a complete toolkit for charitable giving, expert assistance in learning more about the causes they care about, and the opportunity to join others with similar interests to learn and give together.