Sound View Beach Association Starts Fundraising Campaign

Information via Sound View Beach Association, Inc.

OLD LYME, CT — The Sound View Beach Association, Inc. (SVBA) has exciting news! This past year, the Town of Old Lyme was allocated $2.2 million in federal funding to award $10,000 Economic Recovery Grants and Community Initiative Grants through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The grants were to be awarded to “community-based organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and government service for eligible programs, service and capital investments . . .“ As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community civic organization, the SVBA applied for both grants for the Shoreline Community Center, which it sponsors. The community center is a gathering applied place and central location that provides activities and support to the town's residents and organizations and was designated by the Old Lyme Emergency Management Director as an area of refuge for the general public in emergencies such as hurricane and natural disasters.

The SVBA was awarded a $10,000 Economic Recovery Grant to offset revenue losses and expenses incurred during the Covid pandemic. During that time period, the SVBA cancelled almost all of the Shoreline Community Center’s activities and fundraisers. Obviously, we still had to pay on-going expenses (e.g., mortgage, insurance, electricity) and we were not able to do ongoing building maintenance. The awarded Economic Recovery Grant monies will allow us to catch up on bills and conduct the necessary center’s maintenance.

In its Community Initiative Grant application, the SVBA proposed a ‘Shoreline Community Center Renovations Project.’ Renovations to the second floor would add significant space to the existing first floor area for more activities and, as an area of refuge, give the public additional room to take shelter for short or prolonged stays. The SVBA obtained different contractor bids that included budgets for the project’s required carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and fire escape. In its grant award determination, the Town awarded the SVBA $137,599 for its ‘Shoreline Community Center Renovations Project.’ The application required that the SVBA state its contribution to the proposed project, which we listed as $25,000 from fundraising activities and donations.

This year, the SVBA is committing the donations it receives from its Annual Fundraising Campaign to the $25,000 it has to raise for this project. Due to its nonprofit status, all donations may be deducted from your federal taxes. We are grateful for and appreciate everyone’s support!

For Information, call Gail at 860-463-6906. Donations can be sent to the Sound View Beach Association, Inc., c/o Gail Fuller, President, 46 Swan Avenue, Old Lyme, CT 06371.