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Orange County committee accepts $50,000 state grant to support lifeguard recruitment and training
Summary
The Legislature's Education and Economic Development Committee approved a $50,000 New York State grant for lifeguard recruitment, retention and certification in three municipalities, with funds to be passed through the county youth bureau.
Orange County’s Education and Economic Development Committee on Sept. 15 voted to accept and appropriate a $50,000 grant from the New York State Division of Local Government Services to support a statewide lifeguard program administered locally by the county youth bureau. The committee moved and seconded the legislative request and approved the measure.
The county youth bureau, represented at the meeting by Director Rachel Wilson, said the 2025 portion of the grant will be distributed to the Town of Watkin, the Town of Warwick and the City of Middletown. Wilson described the uses for the funding as higher hourly pay for lifeguards, end-of-season retention bonuses, referral bonuses and payment for lifeguard certification and recertification classes.
The state program — described in the legislative request as the New York Statewide Investment in MORE Swimming lifeguard program — previously provided funds for an April 2024 start and required the county to return to the committee for the 2025 portion because the program runs across fiscal years. The youth bureau said the grant’s aims are to increase the number of available lifeguards and the number of certified swimmers.
Committee members voted to approve the appropriation; the meeting record shows the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. No detailed roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
The presentation noted the $50,000 award amount and the participating municipalities, and emphasized that funding may be used for pay and for training costs. The county will administer the funds through the youth bureau and pursue the disbursements described in the legislative request.
