The Community Center was in the news this week!  The Sun Community News published an article about pickleball and other older adult activities at the Community Center.  The article can be viewed here:  https://suncommunitynews.com/news/107367/pickleball-draws-older-adults-to-jay-community-center/ .  Other opportunities, including ping-pong, will be available soon.  In other news around the Community Center, today we had a kickoff meeting for the grant funded energy audit.  The meeting has us gathering additional information to share with the firm L&S Energy Services.  We will be having an onsite assessment on February 8th.  The recommendations that are given in this energy audit will qualify for additional grant funds to help implement energy savings.  I am very excited to continue to find uses for the building, while making it more energy efficient and cheaper to operate for the taxpayers.

Yesterday, I was able to attend Governor Hochul’s budget presentation at Mount Van Hoevenberg.  As part of her $233-billion-dollar budget, she discussed the funding for programs in the North Country.  Housing and Downtown Revitalization were a couple of major points she discussed.   While in the Adirondacks, Governor Hochul congratulated a few towns with Downtown Revitalization (DRI) and NY Forward grants ranging from $4.5 million dollars to $10 million dollars.  Our Economic Development Committee is in the beginning stages of competing for one of these grants to revitalize Main Street in Au Sable Forks.   Having completed the first step with a NY Main Street Technical Assistance grant this past year, we are well on our way.

Recently announced, the FCC will be winding down the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).  Without additional funding from Congress, this program, which gives monthly internet discounts to 22 million homes, will run out by the end of April.  For more information please visit https://getinternet.gov .

Hope you have a great week,

Matt.