Schumer, Gillibrand announce over $2.3 million to support local cultural nonprofits and educational programming & sustain humanities organizations and jobs across Upstate New York

Statement

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,312,046 allocated by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in CARES Act economic stabilization grants, which will help sustain humanities organizations across Upstate New York. The grants will sustain jobs by supporting essential operations for local cultural nonprofits and educational programming -- key components of the Upstate economy -- that have been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

The senators explained that the funding can be used to retain or rehire staff and/or hire new staff who will help humanities organizations recover from the economic and social impacts of COVID-19. Additionally, the senators said funding will be used to advance humanities research and maintain buildings and other core operations.

"Non-profits and cultural organizations are critical parts of the Upstate economy that create jobs and serve vital functions so I am pleased to provide this critical federal support to help them survive through the COVID crisis," said Senator Schumer, who led the negotiations to create this stream of funding in the CARES Act. "This federal funding will help New York along its road to recovery from the pandemic and foster communities that are enriched and inspired. The pandemic did not snuff out our thirst for cultural education, nor the jobs in that vital sector, and I'm proud to deliver this critical funding that will feed our communities the cultural nourishment they need."

"This critical investment in Upstate New York will advance education and humanities research in our communities," said Senator Gillibrand. "Because of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), our cultural institutions are able to reach more families and communities with programming that enriches, educates, and inspires. As New York communities prepare to reopen, this critical CARES funding is pivotal in the advancement of our education and economy, and will help define who we are as a nation. I am proud to have fought for this funding and will continue pushing to fund non-profits, cultural organizations, and humanities."

The senators said that Upstate New York State will receive nearly 6% of the $40.3 million in grants the NEH is allocating this month. New York State as a whole will receive $6,841,387. The grants come from the $75 million in supplemental grant funding the NEH received through the CARES Act.

Nationally, the NEH estimates that the additional grant funding will support projects that will ultimately reach an audience of 137 million people.

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