The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) awarded over $30,000 to area non-profit groups on Friday during a lunchtime open house.
Eight grant recipients were chosen based on applications submitted in January. Many representatives for organizations receiving grants attended the open house, which lasted from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator on Central Avenue in Dunkirk.
The largest grant recipient this year is the Chadwick Bay Regional Development Corporation (CBRDC), which received $10,000 for its regional water program. Director Kathy Tampio and member Patricia Lynch Christina, who is also a Town of Pomfret council person, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. The regional water plan is an initial proposed service area of over 36,000 residents, which includes the towns of Pomfret, Sheridan, Dunkirk and Portland, the villages of Fredonia and Brocton and the City of Dunkirk. The group also plans to assess the legal requirements of a regional system, conduct an in-depth financial analysis and develop a master operation plan.
Article Photos
OBSERVER Photos by Shirley Pulawski
TOP: Chadwick Bay Regional Development Kathy Tampio (left) and Patricia Lynch Christina (center) accepted a grant for $10,000 on behalf of the Chadwick Bay Regional Development Corporation from Jim Holton (right) of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation at the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator in Dunkirk.
ABOVE: Kristine Morabito of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency presented David Briska of the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse a grant from NCCF for $1,677 for roof repairs to the lighthouse.
"The Chadwick Bay Regional Development Corporation is doing great things," Christina said.
The next largest award, a grant of $5,000, was awarded to the Mary E. Seymour Memorial Free Library of Stockton to conduct mold abatement steps and install a new furnace.
Chautauqua Striders, which tutors children, and the Forestville Food Pantry both received $4,000 grants. The food pantry plans to use the grant money for refrigeration and food carts. "We're very excited," Site Director Lorraine Hodkin said.
Literacy Volunteers and the Chautauqua County Historical Society each were awarded $2,500. Literacy Volunteers will be using the money to pay accounting fees, payroll taxes and to purchase bookshelves. The historical society applied for the grant to install a video surveillance system.
Chautauqua County Rural Ministry was awarded a grant of $2,000 after applying for the funds to obtain a rototiller. The Dunkirk Historical Light-house received $1,677 to replace its roof and for retaining wall blocks.
NCCF was incorporated as a charitable organization in 1986. In a press release, NCCF states its mission is to "enrich the quality of life in northern Chautauqua County and to encourage local philanthropy."
Its board of directors is composed of volunteers from the area.
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