From 2002-2005 , mini-grants of $500 were awarded to volunteer groups to implement beautification in their communities. In 2006 the grant program was restructured in order to work directly with the rural towns and villages of Tompkins County. Recognizing that the grant awards of $500 were generally too small to interest the rural towns, the Beautification Advisory Committee requested additional Room Tax funds to award matching grants of $5,000 to each of the eight rural towns of Tompkins County.

A list of suitable projects for each town was developed by the beautification coordinator in conjunction with local town boards and beautification committees. This ensures that the projects fit the tourism goals of the Beautification Program and the Stratgeic Tourism Planning Board.

The projects must be matched with an equal value of volunteer labor, which is valued at the 2006 federal volunteer rate of $18.04 per hour. The grants are dispersed on a reimbursement basis, which means that the projects are implemented and documentation submitted to the beautification coordinator before a check is sent to the municipality.

Click on the links below to see a list of recommended projects for each town, and before and after photos of the projects. (Photos coming soon!)

Contact Dan Klein at 272-2292, or at dek22@cornell.edu for more information.

Town of Caroline

Town of Danby

Town of Dryden

Town of Enfield

Town of Groton

Town of Lansing

Town of Newfield

Town of Ulysses

Matching Beautification Grants 2002-2005

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