summer 2020 update
Milestones Achieved
Since starting the planning process, REDI working groups have made significant progress on the gaps and strategic priorities identified for building an outdoor recreation and heritage tourism economy. The following are some of the key milestones achieved since our last convening in Cuba.
LGV Gains 501c3 status
In May Letchworth Gateway Villages became a project of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), a professional fiscal sponsor organization that has been providing support services to start-up nonprofit projects for the past 22 years in the U.S and around the world. LGV's 501c3 status through SEE provides LGV and the REDI network of partners a new fundraising vehicle to support regional efforts to strengthen the Genesee Valley as an outdoor recreation and heritage tourism destination.
Collaborative Grant Submissions
As a result of the strategies developed by the REDI working groups we submitted 3 collaborative grant proposals addressing gaps identified through the planning process. If successful we will be launching a rural, on-demand transportation pilot project in Perry in September, a digital trail and cycling mapping project in August, and a model Trail Town destination program in Livingston County in October!
Another plug for pooling resources
None of these applications would have been possible without the base level of funding that each of LGV’s municipal partners contributes as part of their annual membership fee. This funding has allowed the REDI network to apply for nearly $300,000 worth of grants that many communities and organizations are unable to pursue because they can’t raise the matching funds. This was especially true during the pandemic. As the last few months have demonstrated, by putting a small amount from each community towards this purpose each year we are able to respond to new funding opportunities as they arise and support economic recovery efforts.
Grant Applications
AARP Community Challenge Grant for a rural on-demand transportation solution to be piloted in Perry. This proposal was developed through months of work by the transportation working group that all started with our first WealthWorks workshop hosted in November 2018! If successful, this project would help support visitor's movement within the area between restaurants, bars, the park and accommodation, as well as provide a transportation solution for outfitters to transport people who want to rent outdoor gear to paddle, hike, camp or fish. A big thank you to Mike Bellamy, Bert Gallmon and the Perry Main Street Association for spearheading this proposal!
USDA Rural Business Development Grant
One of the key gaps identified by the REDI Trails and Marketing working groups was the lack of a comprehensive, digital trail guide that shows the system of trails, cycling routes, and walking paths in the Genesee Valley Region. In April LGV submitted an application on behalf of the REDI network to build a trail and cycling mapping tool as part of ExploreGeneseeValley.com to further visibility for our outdoor recreation assets and connect visitors to local businesses.The Northern Border Regional Commission
As a result of the work undertaken by the REDI municipal planning and trails working groups, LGV was able to submit a proposal to the Northern Border Regional Commission in June to establish a Trail Town destination program in six communities in Livingston County (Nunda, Mount Morris, Leicester, Geneseo, Avon and York). The goal being to create a Trail Town model that can be replicated across other rural communities in the five-county Genesee Valley region in the future. A big thank you to the FOGVG, GVG State Park Manager, Kristine Uribe, and Livingston County Economic Development for helping put this application together.
Peer Learning Webinar Series Launched
As the pandemic hit in March, we launched a series of monthly peer learning webinars to keep the REDI network’s momentum going. The purpose of these webinars was to expose our network to other groups working on similar community-driven, collaborative rural development initiatives to help contextualize the work we’re undertaking and support next steps. The final webinar in this series will be on July 2nd from 2-3pm with guest speakers from the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group and Matt Horn, former City Administrator of Geneva and Director of Municipal Services for MRB Group to talk about Rural Development Hubs (that’s us!) and why they matter.
To access past webinars visit: www.letchworthgatewayvillages.org/redi-webinar-series
Promoting the Genesee Valley Region The REDI marketing group spearheaded by Nina Piccini has made great strides in developing itineraries of the Genesee Valley Region on ExploreGeneseeValley.com in preparation for the HikeYoga virtual event and the in-person event at Letchworth State Park in August. The group is also getting ready to launch a recruitment campaign for regional ambassadors to help promote the area. To learn more or nominate someone you think would be a good candidate contact nina@letchworthgatewayvillages.org.
Next Steps
With the summer season upon us and our partners focused on reopening businesses and our economy, we will be pausing REDI activities for the remainder of the summer after our final peer learning webinar on July 2nd. Additionally we are postponing the final convening we had planned to close out our process in late August/early September until we have a better sense of how things will evolve with COVID-19 in the Fall.
In the meantime, Melissa and I are putting together a plan for virtual meetings and smaller, in-person focus groups to launch in September so that we can finalize planning deliverables by the end of the year. We will also have a clearer idea about all the funding we’ve applied for by that time as well. Keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned!