Fourteen nonprofit organizations will receive approximately $178,000 in tourism promotion grants for 2026, according to Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Director of Economic Development and Tourism Jenna Nazario.
These allocations follow an updated grant-review process implemented after an internal evaluation of the 2025 awards found instances where organizations received county administration and county legislature support for the same event or operational expenses. That review identified cases where applicants could not demonstrate that past county funding produced measurable tourism impact. In addition to the tourism grants, the review has allowed the county to shift grants to other nonprofits to other agencies.
“By tightening our grant process, we’re ensuring county funds go to programs that deliver real results while still supporting the nonprofits that serve our community through the appropriate contract and 224-agency channels,” Day said.
Organizations that did not qualify for tourism-promotion grants will be redirected to funding through nonprofit contracts or as 224 agencies — avenues that better match their missions and services. Under New York County Law § 224, a “224 agency” is a nonprofit or community organization that receives County Legislature funding to provide specified public services; migrated agencies include nonprofits tasked with delivering services.
“We are working together to review each organization to make sure they are categorized and funded properly,” explained County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. “The Legislature recognizes the vital role these nonprofits play in supporting residents and enhancing quality of life across Rockland County.”
Tourism remains a critical tool in reducing the burden on local taxpayers. Without tourism‑generated sales and local taxes, the average Rockland household would pay an additional $675 annually in property taxes to maintain current services.
The tourism grant recipients are as follows:
- Visit Nyack $15,000
• Nanuet Chamber $18,000
• Phoenix Ensemble $8,000
• Community Farm Network $10,000
• NY Boulders $20,000
• Emotions $5,000
• Friends of Harmony Hall $11,000
• Hope Wade Designs $4,000
• RCC Culinary $15,000
• Roundtable Brewery $15,000
• United Latin Festival $8,000
• Pearl River Chamber $15,000
• She Got Buckets $12,000
• RCC Cultural Arts Center $22,000
Total: $178,000
Organizations shifting to migrated agencies:
- Garner Arts Center $40,000
• Edward Hopper House $20,000
• Rockland Historical Society $25,000
• ROCA $15,000
• Kinship of Ice $30,000
Total $130,000
Organizations shifting to 224 agencies:
• Penguin Rep Theatre $41,500
• Chiku Awali African Dance $16,000
• Haverstraw Brick Museum $88,000
• Haverstraw River Arts Fund $39,500
• ArtsRock (New 224 Agency) TBD
Total $185,000+
