«Exploring the Metropolis Blog

PRESS RELEASE: EtM Receives REDC Award

David Johnston December 14, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2015

CONTACT: David Johnston
david@exploringthemetropolis.org
212-886-2503

NY STATE AWARDS MORE THAN $2 BILLION, INCLUDES $49,500 AWARDED TO ETM

Governor Cuomo Announces More Than 2 Billion in Economic Development Resources Awarded Through Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Competition and Upstate Revitalization Initiative

NEW YORK, NY, December 14, 2015 – Since 2011, the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiative has been a key component of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s transformative approach to economic development in the state of New York. On December 10, Gov. Cuomo announced more than two billion dollars in resources through the Regional Economic Development Council Competition and the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, including a two-year grant of $49,500 to Exploring the Metropolis (EtM) to support expanded programmatic and outreach capacity.

“Exploring the Metropolis is thrilled to receive this award from the Regional Economic Development Council,” said David Johnston, Executive Director of EtM. “This money will allow us to increase staffing to support program coordination, marketing and administration. Since we have grown our programming in Queens – and particularly, in Jamaica -this support from the state and REDC will be crucial.

“We are grateful to the state, to Governor Cuomo and to our partners at the New York State Council on the Arts, which contributed almost $5 million to this year’s Consolidated Funding Application. We also want to acknowledge the fantastic support and encouragement of Hope Knight and Andrew Manshel at the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.”

In 2011, Governor Cuomo launched the Regional Economic Development Councils and the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) to provide each region with the tools to create and implement their own roadmap for economic prosperity and job creation. This community-based model uses local assets to drive local economic growth and has resulted in unprecedented partnerships and collaboration that are building a reinvigorated economy. The 2015 CFA made $750 million in economic development resources available from over thirty programs across thirteen state agencies.

For more information on the Regional Economic Development Council, visit http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/

About Exploring the Metropolis

Founded in 1982, EtM’s mission is to foster a vibrant and prolific performing arts community around shared resources of space and talent, to increase stability and growth within the artistic community and to help broaden public access to the performing arts. The EtM Con Edison Composers’ Residency, utilizing underused space in NYC cultural and community facilities, has awarded more than $300,000 worth of rehearsal space and financial support to more than 40 composers since its inception in 2009. EtM’s recent research studies on the needs of NYC’s performing artists have resulted in major initiatives including the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, the EtM Con Edison Composers’ Residency, the EtM Choreographer + Composer Residencies in Partnership with Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning and the CUNY Dance Initiative. www.etm.wpengine.com

###

The EtM Con Edison Composers’ Residency program is funded by Consolidated Edison, The Amphion Foundation, the George L. Shields Foundation, The Endeavor Foundation, AOH Foundation, DJ McManus Foundation, The Reed Foundation and individuals. This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

We are grateful to the Mertz Gilmore Foundation The Endeavor Foundation and the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation for their support of the EtM Choreographer + Composer Residencies in Partnership with the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.