FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS: Gordon Tepper, Rebecca Cheng, Matthew Leonenko and Michael Anderson | (516) 869-7794

North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board have announced the completion of the Town’s Cultural Master Plan. The document is one of the first adopted plans of its kind in New York State, and it is a roadmap to foster diversity, equity, and inclusivity, while supporting strong and vibrant local economies. The Town plans to hire a Commerce and Culture Coordinator to oversee the implementation of the Cultural Master Plan.

“The arts play a vital role in not just enhancing the quality of life for our residents but as a significant component of an economic development strategy,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “We have so many wonderful destinations in North Hempstead, and it is extremely important that the Town plays a proactive role in promoting our businesses and cultural institutions so that they are highlighted and continue to thrive.”

The Cultural Master Plan is the culmination of twenty months of focus groups, surveys, public meetings, and discussions with civic associations, chambers of commerce, Business Improvement Districts, arts & culture organizations, and historical societies.

The document includes a detailed implementation strategy containing studies, examples, and instructions relevant to North Hempstead. The highlighted recommendations include:

• Creating an initial Office of Commerce & Culture that brings together the Town, interested villages, local BIDs, Chamber of Commerce bodies, and arts and cultural non-profits within North Hempstead.
  
  
• Development of a marketing strategy that may include a more dynamic online tool for branding, promoting and incentivizing the arts, culture, tourism, dining and retail experience to help thread together and cross-pollinate activities/events Town-wide.
  
  
• Cultivating a program that decreases retail vacancies and increases business retention. This will be addressed with artist pop-up shops, improvements to the shopping, dining and festival experience and involvement from the art, cultural and historical sectors.
  
  

Though the plan was initially crafted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is being adapted to address both local business and arts & culture organizational challenges in the contexts of economic rebuilding, operational challenges, and public health recovery/safety.

The Town is now beginning its search for a Commerce and Culture Coordinator who will assist with the implementation of the Plan in the coming months.