ALBANY COUNTY — The first American Rescue Plan Act awards — money from the federal government meant to help with fallout from the pandemic — have been released to the community by Albany County.

The county legislature on Tuesday formally approved spending $1,975,000, according to a release from the county executive’s office.

A total of $1,125,000 was allotted to 21 local organizations for the promotion of arts, culture, and tourism, with individual awards ranging up to $80,000. Locally, the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce and Historic Altamont were among those 21 organizations.

Sandra Dollard, the chamber’s director, said the grant money will be spent on a new initiative: Four Seasons of Guilderland. “We’re bringing commerce and tourism together,” she said.

She hopes to start in 2024 with “events all the time … just showing all the beauty we have to offer.” She mentioned wineries, breweries, golf courses, and the nearby rail trail and said there could be celebrations with holiday lights or brewery tours.

“We’ve always been known for Western Avenue but we’re so much more than that,” said Dollard.

Dollard said on Thursday she wasn’t at liberty to disclose the amount of the grant since not everyone had been informed but she noted it was less than the chamber had applied for because there were so many applicants.

Separately, $300,000 in ARPA funds were awarded to nine organizations for the purpose of recovery efforts within the arts and culture sector of the economy, with awards ranging from $25,000 to $40,000. Locally, this included Old Songs Inc., based in Voorheesville.

“We’re really excited,” said Joy Bennett, Old Songs director, on Thursday; she was not yet aware of the amount of the grant.

Founded in 1977, Old Songs supports traditionally based music and dance and runs an annual festival at the Altamont fairgrounds as well as hosting a series of musicians at its headquarters in Voorheesville in a former church-turned-library building.

Old Songs received a $10,000 New York State Council on the Arts Recovery Grant  in 2021 to support pandemic recovery efforts.

“It helps us stay afloat during the pandemic,” said Bennett of the grants. “Given the economy, it’s harder and harder to get artists. With the demise of so many festivals,” she said, block booking is no longer feasible.

The grants, Bennett concluded, “help us to keep providing cultural arts events for the Capital District.”

Additionally, the legislature approved $550,000 worth of ARPA awards for the revitalization of industrial and commercial properties within Albany County.

These awards are to be used for rehabilitation or maintenance, renovation, removal and remediation of environmental contaminants, demolition or deconstruction, or greening and vacant lot cleanup. Five different projects received between $75,000 and $150,000.

“Once distributed, this funding will be reinvested right back into our community, leading to stronger neighborhoods and further economic growth,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy in the release.

More grants available

In the coming weeks, Albany County will accept grant applications in two areas:

— Economic Growth and Recovery

This will focus on helping small businesses in Albany County recover from the pandemic and grow and also provide funding to support on-the-job training; and

— Community Development and Public Health

Applicants in this category will apply for behavioral health, substance abuse, and telehealth grants; affordable housing and housing support grants; community improvement capital grants; food access grants; frontline worker support programs; non-profit recovery grants; preventing and responding to violence grants; youth services grants; senior services grants; and transportation services grants.

Those interested in signing up to receive notifications on the opening of these programs may do so at the county’s ARPA portal. There are two separate notification registrations.

ARPA funds must be obligated no later than Dec. 31, 2024, and fully expended by Dec. 31, 2026. Funds that are not fully spent by Dec. 31, 2026 are required to be returned to the United States Treasury.