ELLENVILLE – The distribution of the "Ellenville Million" has been slow and steady, said county legislator and Ulster County Economic Development Alliance board member TJ Briggs.

"We're not pushing it hard," Briggs said, noting that the first application — a $100,000 improvement project for the Hunt Memorial building — is underway and the EDA board, the agency handling the administrative processes for the county's $1 million aid project to the town after its Nevele Resort failed to get a casino license — is awaiting word on a grant Shadowland Theatre applied for.

"We want the Hunt to be the first one, to get our feet wet and get it moving along nicely," he continued.

The rest of what's been approved for spending, all components initially earmarked by the Ellenville Million task force and including such items as tourism and infrastructure, is "pending." But, Briggs added, it seems people — town and village officials — are biding their time before pouncing on any one project, and really evaluating their proposed projects before formally contacting EDA.

"They're looking at the money slowly and as things come up, they call," Briggs said. "Nobody is trying to bully something through, and I like that."

Recently, he noted, the director of economic development for the county, Suzanne Holt, walked with other county and local officials around Ellenville and environs, checking out the town and village parks while brainstorming ideas for betterment. The next meeting of the EDA, set for Tuesday, December 2, will establish guidelines for the village facade improvements, noted village manager Joseph Stoeckeler.

"We try to be supportive in the process, in what they need," he said, pointing out how the village and Town of Wawarsing are currently working together on plans to connect the hamlet of Napanoch to underutilized village sewer facilities.

Stoeckeler added how that recent walking tour of the village and town brought out new ideas, including the possible addition of restroom facilities, a tennis court and the first phase of an amphitheater at the Berme Road Park.

"I think they want to see some visual improvements," Stoeckeler said.

There have been concerns that the distribution of funds, or some of the initially outlined processes, of the Ellenville Million are slow moving and not aimed at the effort's original goals.

"The overall concept of the 'Ellenville Million' initially announced was that they were going to try to get a multiplier effect going by providing us with grant writers so that we don't just spend money," recently reelected Wawarsing councilman Dan Johnson said during a recent board meeting. "But now we're in position, they're saying, 'We want all this money spent in the next nine months.'"

While thankful for the opportunity, Johnson continued, he's worried that the town will miss out on funding if they take their time.

"We should maximize what we can get out of it," he added.

Things have been slow coming from the town in terms of their presenting projects to the EDA, Brigges countered, adding that if they were interested in developing an idea or applying for a grant and required funding to do so, they only need call. There's a stockpile of sorts — soft money, Briggs called it — set aside for such things, with grant writing fees, engineering study costs and the like included.

More next month.