New to the High Falls area is an inspiration and connectivity hub called Neuland, whose creators are hoping to provide opportunities to individuals, businesses and organizations in Ulster County through a new grant program.

The Neuland Grant is open to anyone operating in Ulster County who is looking to, according to their website, “connect people in meaningful ways” through a project they are looking to materialize in the area. There are four grants available at $5,000 each, with a deliberately wide mandate, stipulating that projects must “Create joyful opportunities for people to come together and learn from each other. Use fun- and awe-inspiring approaches to create meaningful connection. Promote understanding and respect between different groups. Break down barriers that divide people. Build bridges between people or communities.”

The Neuland Grant Program, and Neuland itself, was created by business partners Flore and Dirk, whose backgrounds are in consulting and leadership training at their previous company called LifeLabs Learning. After Dirk sold the company in 2023, they purchased the property where Neuland is currently located in High Falls. The Journal spoke to Arif Khan, another part of the Neuland team, who said that the grant is being funded partially by the money Dirk made with his company LifeLabs Learning, and is inspired by the “growing isolation and loneliness in the United States.” The grant is also funded by the Lucas Institute, a non-profit based in High Falls.

Khan also added that they are looking to “support new and emerging ideas,” and focus on “newer projects that might not have access to things.”

Beyond the grant itself, Neuland is also looking to provide technical support to groups that both do and do not receive the grant funding. “If they need other resources, whether they’re financial resources, if they need space to have meetings or host events, they need specialists in something, if they need someone to come in and do professional coaching,” Khan said all of these resources and more are available.

The Neuland home base is part of the deal, too. The company website says that “when we saw this property with its houses and barn and fields and forests and creek and river, the idea for Neuland was born,” which, they say, is simply “to create an awesome place for great people to get together and inspire one another.” Khan said Dirk “wants to open it up to people,” and is already hosting a kid’s camp for primitive learning there, which they want to expand to host a variety of different events on the large, bucolic property.

Applications are due on October 15th and will be reviewed by four members of Neuland based on the criteria mentioned. On their website, Neuland states that “The top applications will be discussed until the group reaches consensus about which projects could have the greatest impact.” Grants will be awarded by October 29th, and funding will be dispersed 50/50: with 50% at the beginning and 50% at the end of the project.

As of Friday, September 20th Neuland has received four applications, which leaves plenty of room for hopeful entrepreneurs to take a chance at this opportunity. The application is straightforward and easily accessible through Neuland’s website (www.neulandny.com/grants). Any questions can be addressed to grants@neulandny.com.