CDBG Microenterprise Grant
The Town of Jay, in partnership with the Essex County IDA, held a public meeting about the Microenterprise Grant Program on October 2 at 6:00 pm at the Community Center. About ten people attended. A program flyer was distributed, and the program details were explained by the Essex County IDA’s Carol Calabrese and Jody Olcott.
There will be a mandatory training session for anyone interested in applying, to be held at the Community Center on Tuesday, October 7 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. If you are interested in applying for a grant between $5,000 and $35,000, please contact the Essex County IDA at 518-873-9114 or email info@essexcountyida.com.
2026 Budget Schedule
The Town of Jay held a special meeting last night to present the 2026 Tentative Budget, which is available on our website or as a hard copy at the Town Clerk’s office. Budget workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 pm. A public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 6 at 7:00 pm.
If you would like to learn more about the budget, please reach out to my office with any questions.
Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) Program
The Town of Jay was recently named a partner community for the RERC program. We will work with community partners to plan for Main Street revitalization through sustainable growth in the outdoor recreation economy.
The project will include planning for the building and management of new trails with town, county, state, and other partners; implementing strategies for promotion, branding, and wayfinding to encourage resident and visitor use; and ensuring that outdoor amenities are accessible for a wide range of ages and abilities. We will also address public health and the conservation of natural resources in the region.
This program is a valuable planning tool that complements our ongoing Comprehensive Plan update. For more information about this program and to read success stories, visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/recreation-economy-rural-communities.
Forward Together Conference
This week I attended the Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board’s Forward Together Conference in Schroon Lake. I participated in a session titled “Making Your Plan Work.” One of the presenters, Megan McConville, who is pictured in the photo provided, will be involved in our RERC program.
She shared inspiring examples of the program in action, and I am excited for the future of the Town of Jay. I also had the opportunity to network with many other organizations that can help bring positive change to our community.
Hope you have a great weekend,
Matt
