The SSCP has received a New York State Environment Protection Fund (EPF) Challenge grant for the amount of $400,000 from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation bringing the total of our challenge grants to $750,000. EPF grants are awarded to local communities and organizations to assist with waterfront revitalization projects, historic preservation efforts, expanding open space, and increasing access to public lands. The SSCP previously received an EPF Challenge grant of $350,000 in 2006. The awarded funds will go towards the transportation of the Columbia from Detroit to New York and the first phases of the restoration of the Columbia. We need your help in raising the matching funds that will allow us to initiate these essential preliminary phases of the project.

We are expanding our offices at the Neighborhood Preservation Center to accommodate our growing number of volunteers and to help us lay the groundwork for our capital campaign. The SSCP is an entirely volunteer-run organization and is fortunate to be based in the historic landmark rectory of St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery located in the heart of the East Village in New York City, among other groups dedicated to the preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of our city. With a new total of $750,000 in challenge grants our office expansion will allow us more room to focus and coordinate the crucial capital campaign to raise the matching funds. We are grateful to Felicia Mayro and the staff at NPC and its parent organization the St. Mark’s Landmark fund for their ongoing support.

The SSCP has received an Initiative grant of $5,000 from the NYS legislature. The grant was made possible through the kind sponsorship of Senator Thomas P. Morahan of the 38th senate district of New York and will be used for infrastructural enhancement.