Legislature designates Ulster County Department of Tourism as official tourism promotion agency for 2026

The Economic Development committee on Aug. 5 voted to designate the Ulster County Department of Tourism as the county’s official tourism promotion agency for calendar year 2026, a state‑required designation that allows the department to apply for New York State matching funds (sometimes called state aid). The chair said the department estimates about $60,000 in potential state matching funds tied to the designation.

A department representative identified as Lisa told the committee that the state’s call for tourism matching‑fund applications typically opens in October and that designated agencies must be in place for the calendar year to be eligible to apply. The committee approved the designation by voice vote and added the legislator who requested sponsorship to the resolution.

Lisa also told the committee that the county purchasing department had issued a request for proposals for tourism advertising services that week. She said the department had the option to extend the incumbent’s contract for one more year but chose to issue a competitive RFP after discovering that the incumbent firm had become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst Media; staff raised that change as a potential conflict of interest and announced the open procurement on the county portal.

Committee members voted to designate the department and approved the procurement step; the designation enables the Department of Tourism to prepare a state matching‑fund application in October for calendar‑year 2026 funding.