Check out the email below that was sent to Chamber President Todd Shimkus by Elizabeth Sobol, President of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, on Tuesday, December 18th. Below the email is a copy of the press release announcing the details of the two REDC grants awarded to SPAC by Governor Cuomo for the coming year. This is great news for Saratoga, SPAC, local residents, visitors, and our world-class arts community. 

Dear Friends,
 
You may already have heard the news - but it is with great pleasure that I announce that we have been awarded a $195,000 grant from I Love NY Tourism to develop and execute a marketing campaign that will begin to establish Saratoga Springs as a cultural tourism destination!
 
As you may recall we will target cultural tourist decision makers and Geography for media placement will be a 2-5 hour “drivable” and/or “rail trip” from “feeder” markets such as bedroom communities in NYC and CT, Hudson Valley and Western MA and develop these themes:
 

• Saratoga:  a Jazz City for 42 Years 
• Saratoga:  a cradle of classical arts performance residencies and companies since 1966 
• Saratoga:  host to a vibrant popular music scene 
• Saratoga:  home of fine arts museum experiences 

 
We are so grateful to all of you who collaborated with us to make this grant a reality.  We extend our thanks to participating cultural institutions, Skidmore College, Opera Saratoga, Caffe Lena and the National Museum of Dance – as well as our regional tourism boosters The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau/Discover Saratoga, Saratoga Springs City Center Authority and the City of Saratoga Springs.
 
We will send out an invitation shortly for a kick off meeting in mid-January.  From there we expect to establish working groups and lines of communication to ensure smooth project implementation. 
We couldn’t be more excited and look forward to working closely with you through campaign implementation in 2020. 
 
Warm regards,
 
Elizabeth

Saratoga Performing Arts Center is Awarded $1,695,000 in Funding by the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative
 
$1.5 Million to Rehabilitate SPAC Concession Area including New Restrooms,
Educational and Programming Spaces
 
$195,000 Marketing Grant to Position Saratoga Springs as a Cultural Destination in Partnership with Skidmore College, Opera Saratoga, National Museum of Dance, Caffè Lena, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau, Saratoga Springs City Center Authority, and the City of Saratoga
 
Saratoga Springs, NY (December 18, 2018) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that it has been awarded $1,695,000 in economic and community development funding by the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiative. The news was shared by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo as part of the 2018 REDC Awards, which granted $763 million in funds throughout New York State.
SPAC’s awarded funds have been allocated to two different projects: $195,000 for a multi-media marketing campaign designed to increase cultural tourism to Saratoga Springs and the Capital District, and $1.5 million to demolish the old concessions area and transform the space into a new concessions area plaza. The updated facilities will feature upgraded restrooms, new programming and educational spaces, and new concessions areas-- all reflective of the venue’s attractive park setting.
“SPAC’s vision for the future includes a much larger footprint in the region, including expanding the wide array of arts, culture and education programs and opportunities that it currently provides to residents, tourists and surrounding communities, who represent a large economic driver for the region. In order to continue to serve our half-a-million visitors a year, our 52-year old facilities must be updated and rehabilitated to reflect its status as a best-in-class, internationally recognized cultural institution,” said Elizabeth Sobol, SPAC’s President & CEO. “We are grateful to the REDC, and to our incredible vision partners, the SPAC Board of Directors, NYS Parks, and the LA Group for their help in reimagining SPAC and its place in this unique and exquisite natural location.”
$1.5 Million Concessions Improvement Project
In 2020, SPAC plans to completely replace the concessions bathrooms, which currently only operate at 60% capacity due to aging plumbing. In addition, the project is slated to replace the temporary concessions area with park-friendly, tree-filled, aesthetically-pleasing pathways and structures that will accommodate its growing community engagement and education programming, which has increased from serving 5,000 students to 38,000 students since 2016. The concessions project, slated to begin demolition in fall of 2019, will follow the spring 2019 renovation of the amphitheater ramps, made possible by a $1.75 million allocation from NYS Parks. The projects are all part of SPAC’s mission to rejuvenate its physical campus for future generations.
$195,000 Multi-Media Marketing Campaign
As part of SPAC’s new vision to spur economic development by promoting Saratoga Springs and the Capital Region as a thriving arts community and international cultural destination, it has partnered with cultural institutions, Skidmore College, Opera Saratoga, Caffe Lena and the National Museum of Dance in addition to the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, Saratoga Springs City Center Authority and the City of Saratoga Springs. This initiative, which is slated to launch in 2020, is expected to continue in future years to come and will complement the Public Relations campaign that SPAC and the City of Saratoga initiated in 2018 to promote Saratoga as a cultural destination. Saratoga Performing Arts Center
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious summer festivals. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws vacation crowds and arts connoisseurs each year for immersive experiences of performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, Opera Saratoga, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts the annual Saratoga Wine and Food Festival in addition to imaginative programming such as the popular “SPAC on Stage” series and Caffè Lena @ SPAC.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s children’s education programs and support the vibrancy of its classical season. For more information visit spac.org.
 
About the Regional Economic Development Councils
The Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative is a key component of Governor Cuomo's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, Governor Cuomo established 10 Regional Councils to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources.
 
After eight rounds of the REDC process, more than $6.1 billion has been awarded to more than 7,300 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region's strategic plans, projecting to create and retain more than 230,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.