To kick-off this year’s Mayfest at the Hudson Valley Rail trail, NYS Senator Michelle Hinchey [D-46] held a press conference last Saturday to present $120,000 in state funding to the Friends of the Walkway’s ‘Farm to Market Initiative’ that will be used to connect 600,000 annual visitors to the Walkway with locally made and grown products in the Hudson Valley.

Hinchey described the Walkway, “as a cultural institution, driving so much energy and economic activity into our region and we are standing right in the middle of the Mayfest Essential Farmer’s Market, which has become a staple in the Hudson Valley. It’s where you can find small family owned farms and so many wares and goods.”

In the State Senate Hinchey chairs the Agricultural and Food Committee that helps those who work in these fields get their products to market.

“I am always looking for creative ways to do this whether it’s through state funding, legislation of just by creating partnerships through people in our community,” she said. “My office shares a strong mission with the Walkway Over the Hudson, which is to bolster our local economies, raise small business profiles and give more people access to the fantastic selection of local products that we have here in the Hudson Valley.”

Hinchey said these funds will provide, “a prime opportunity to bring those tourism dollars right into our communities, which supports our small business owners and putting their products front and center as more and more people come to our communities. I cannot wait to see what this grows and how this benefits everybody here on both sides of the river and to develop many new customers for those small businesses that we can see here in the Hudson Valley.”

Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart, Executive Director of the Walkway Over the Hudson, said the pavilion on the Poughkeepsie side of the Walkway will be remodeled and will sell Taste New York products and souvenirs. After this is completed, heat and cooling will be added to small wooden Friends Pavilion on the Highland side.

In addition, the parking lot on Havilland Rd will be smoothed out and extra lighting will be installed along with more electrical connections for vendors at future events.

Waldstein-Hart said Walkway is working on some designs that she hopes will be ready by mid June and submitted for a Consolidated Funding Application grant from New York State.

Jami Anson, as Director of Special Events for the Walkway Over the Hudson, is responsible for putting the growing Mayfest together. She works for the Friends of the Walkway board and together they handle a myriad of details that go into ensuring a successful event.

This year they had more than 100 vendors who provided food, beverages, deserts, a petting zoo and many handmade crafts and works of art.

“I am the team leader working to put this market event together and it is a true partnership between the Town of Lloyd, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail and the Walkway Over the Hudson,” she said. “We’re helping the community out, its beautiful and not only that, look around, there’s so much joy and so many quality products from vendors who haven’t been able to sell for awhile; it’s an excellent day.”