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Schumer, Gillibrand, Tonko Announce +$62K USDA Award to Carey Institute in Rensselaerville


Grant will fund rural development and technical assistance to businesses throughout New York State

ALBANY, NY—U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that the Carey Institute for Global Good in Rensselaerville, NY received a grant totaling $62,080.00 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. The award will provide technical assistance and trainings to rural breweries in New York State in order to retain and create jobs, improve operations and grow sales.

“Local businesses are an important source of our economic and cultural strength, sustaining good jobs and adding to the unique vitality that makes our Capital Region such a special place to live and work,” Congressman Tonko said. “The Carey Institute has been an important thread in this tapestry, and I am delighted that this USDA award will add to the vital technical assistance they deliver to help our rural businesses grow and thrive. My heartfelt congratulations to the Carey Institute for this well-deserved award and for all of their work strengthening our rural businesses and Capital Region economy.”

“This federal investment will be a shot in the arm for both Upstate New York and its burgeoning craft brewery sector,” said Senator Schumer. “With this funding, the Carey Institute will be able to offer rural breweries comprehensive technical assistance and training, enriching rural economies across the state and supporting good-paying jobs. I am proud to announce this federal award and will always fight tooth and nail to make sure that our rural communities across Upstate New York and the Capital Region have the resources needed to create meaningful economic development and prosper.”

“This federal funding is great news for our local entrepreneurs who are entering New York’s craft beverage industry,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Through this investment, the Carey Institute for Global Good will provide technical support and business training to new breweries across the state, which will help strengthen our local economies and create new jobs. I will always fight in the Senate to ensure that our entrepreneurs have the resources they need to be successful.”  

“Our goal at the Carey Institute’s Sustainable Communities Program is to see that rural communities are engaged and represented in opportunities for sustainable development,” said Rebecca Platel, Sustainable Communities Program Manager for the Carey Institute. “New York’s craft beverage sector is a great example of this, with start-up breweries in rural communities across the state. The project will help these new businesses build staying power and achieve their business goals so that they may continue positively impacting their rural communities. The project’s target audience is small scale brewers, but we intend to open the technical assistance to all eligible beverage producers.”  

The Carey Institute for Global Good is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2012 that provides resources and education to teachers, journalists and farmers in order to improve their communities. This grant will fund in-person and remote training sessions, as well as one-on-one assistance to rural breweries in 70 towns and villages throughout more than 30 New York counties. An estimated 40 jobs are expected to be created and more than 20 saved as a result of this support.

The USDA Rural Development offers grants and loans that promote economic growth and quality of life in rural America, and supports programs such as housing, health care, water, electric and communications infrastructure, community facilities, and more.

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