MARATHON, NY (607NewsNow) – The Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (MAVAC) is pivoting to other funding opportunities.

MAVAC is pursuing other grant opportunities after missing out on NY Forward funding.

The six winners of the $4.5 million grant were announced last week, and the proposed $4.1 EMS Facility was not among them. In a Facebook post on May 13, MAVAC Chief John Tillotson called the decision “heartbreaking,” but added the winning projects will improve the community and should be celebrated.

Tillotson says MAVAC will move forward with resilience and determination to close the funding gap, which is reportedly over $1 million.

Marathon won the grant in March of 2025.

The six winning projects are:

  • Lovell Field and Civic Center enhancement – $1,277,000
  • IMTS building renovation – $1,200,000
  • Peck Memorial Library renovation – $1,000,000
  • Rental housing construction at 19-21 Cortland Street – $540,000
  • Project fund for mixed-use and commercial property improvements – $300,000
  • New coffee shop and bakery at 1 Broome Street – $183,000

You can learn more about the winning projects here.