Left to right: Luke Beemer, Alic Haroldson, Commissioner Kathy Moser, Peg Ellsworth, Jonathan Andrews, Sally Harkin, Michael Mathis

ALBANY — The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation announced that the MARK Project received the Joan K. Davidson Award for its hard work revitalizing local communities.

According to the state, the organization received the award after it “united local leaders, residents, and funding partners, strengthening both the social and economic fabric of small towns throughout central Catskills through initiatives in affordable housing, economic development, local food systems, tourism, farming, civic planning, and downtown revitalization.”

The state cited the MARK Project as a “model for community-based revitalization.”

In particular, the state lauded the work of the organization in Roxbury working with the town government and local organizations following the $10 million Downtown Revitalization (DRI) grant. It cited the Kirkside project and plans to create a “fully operational inn and restaurant that will serve as a workforce and entrepreneurship incubator.”

“The MARK Project also supports emerging nonprofits with administrative and technical assistance, which strengthens long-term organizational resilience across rural communities,” said the state.

“The MARK Project was honored to be the recipient of this year’s Joan K. Davidson Award from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Preservation is not just about buildings, but about people and places and we work hard every day to connect the dots and help create a strong and lasting sense of place in our region,” said MARK Project Executive Director Peg Ellsworth.