New York Community Trust–Westchester awards The Recorder a two-year grant

The Recorder has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the New York Community Trust-Westchester to increase access to news coverage on environmental and affordable housing issues.

The two-year grant will allow The Recorder to significantly expand coverage at a critical time for local news in our area. 

“The Recorder has been reporting on these areas as a matter of major importance to our readers and area residents, and this investment will help us better serve the community and elevate the public dialogue around a range of important topics,” said Ed Baum, editorial director.

Environmental reporting will address topics such as local conservation and preservation efforts, land use regulations, water and air quality, climate mitigation measures and other sustainability issues. Affordable housing topics to be examined will include local zoning policies and other legislation at the municipal, county and state levels affecting housing development, proposed new affordable housing developments, and the human impact of housing insecurity. 

The grant will also enable The Recorder to partner with community organizations on events related to environmental issues and affordable housing.

“Our Westchester Advisory Board believes a well-informed public is crucial for informing and understanding important local environmental and housing public policy issues,” said Laura Rossi, vice president, New York Community Trust-Westchester. “Ongoing, in-depth coverage of such issues can help improve civic engagement by our residents and businesses.”

The New York Community Trust-Westchester also announced a two-year grant totaling $60,000 to support The Peekskill Herald so that it can continue to provide in-depth coverage of community issues.

The New York Community Trust is New York’s largest community foundation, serving New York City, Long Island and Westchester. For more than 100 years, the trust “has brought together the local knowledge and diverse expertise of its team and nonprofit and philanthropic partners to support thriving and equitable communities and help donors champion the causes they love,” according to foundation officials. 

This grant is the first awarded to The Recorder since its founding in 2024. Grant funding, along with revenues from paid subscriptions, community donations and advertising, is one of the types of financial support The Recorder relies on to provide independent local journalism. 

The announcement of the trust’s two-year grant follows last week’s news that The Recorder is expanding its news coverage to the village of Mount Kisco in addition to the towns of Bedford, Lewisboro and Pound Ridge.