Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia & Dutchess) is encouraged by the governor’s inclusion of a $20 million farmland preservation initiative in this year’s 2015-16 budget, but she urges people to let their legislators and the governor know how important it is to ensure those funds stay in the final budget.

“This money is critical to keeping our working farmland and to allowing the next generation of farmers to literally put down roots. In the Hudson Valley, agriculture has driven the growth in tourism, food production, the farm-to-table restaurant boom, as well as small businesses that have cropped up to serve these sectors,” Barrett said. “I will continue working to make sure that everyone understands that agriculture and tourism are key economic engines.”

Assemblymember Barrett recently proposed the creation of a new subcommittee to focus on the state’s many cultural institutions and historic sites becoming economic drivers for local communities. The goal would be to look at programs and sites across the state and make recommendations as to how the state can better support and help them reach their full potential. She has also fought for more than a year to stop the threat of monster power lines from destroying local farms, viewsheds, communities and the economy that makes the Hudson Valley one of New York’s premier tourist destinations. Barrett noted the attention given to tourism in the 2015-16 budget proposal, including $8.5 million for the I Love NY program, $5 million for the Market NY program, as well as a $45 million tourism campaign.

“Tourism continues to be a major economic driver in the Hudson Valley,” Assemblymember Barrett said. “People come from all over the world to visit our magnificent parks and natural resources, our fabulous cultural sites and historic homes and our beautiful farms. When people come here they spend money which helps our local businesses and supports job growth.”