Greenway approves $10K grant to town of Nassau for Rensselaer Plateau Alliance Economic Study | News

A $10,000 Greenway matching grant to the Town of Nassau, a Greenway Community, for the development of a regional economic impact study of the Rensselaer Plateau region has been approved, announced the Acting Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, Mark Castiglione.

According to the Hudson Valley Greenway, the project to develop a Rensselaer Plateau Regional Conservation Plan (RPRCP) is already underway. The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance has the specific goal of creating a roadmap for conserving the full spectrum of natural resources. Funding from the Greenway will look at the direct and indirect economic impacts of the forest products industry, recreation and tourism and, an estimation of ecosystem services provided by the forest. This study and the information it provides will be an important component that will complement the ecological and community values data in the conservation plan and will become part of the overall conservation plan.

"We are very appreciative of the Greenway Council for supporting this grant request.  The economic study it funds will provide information critical to a well-rounded conservation planning effort being done in cooperation with municipalities and residents of the Rensselaer Plateau region. The study will evaluate the contributions of the region's natural resources to the forest products industry, recreation and tourism.  It will also evaluate the value of the plateau's open space, water supplies, clean air and other less tangible but essential benefits.  All information of the conservation plan will be made available to assist towns, businesses and residents with their planning efforts" said Jim Bonesteel, President of the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Inc. in a statement.

The Hudson River Valley Greenway works with communities on a voluntary basis to assist in the development of local land use plans and programs related to the Greenway criteria.