GLOVERSVILLE – Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday will announce the winner among seven potential Mohawk Region cities, which includes applicant Gloversville, to receive $10 million to transform their downtowns.
Word of the announcement date came Friday from Fulton County Center for Regional Growth board Chairman Dustin Swanger. He told his board that Cuomo will make decisions on $10 million winners from each of 10 regions involved in the state’s new Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Under the program, one city from the six-county Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council – which includes Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and Schoharie counties – will be selected
“That [program] will come to a rapid close pretty soon,” said Swanger.
Swanger said he is on a committee on the Mohawk Valley council that already recommended one city to the governor to receive $10 million from the state. He said there were seven applicants from the Mohawk Valley region.
He joked that he will make “one friend and six enemies” with next week’s decision.
Swanger said his council committee followed published criteria, but also discussed ways to look at the proposals.
“We just put together a grid,” Swanger said.
He said the applicant cities were ranked, but none were immediately dismissed.
Gloversville is one of the seven applicants for the $10 million. The city submitted its application May 23. The Capital Region had 50 applicants vying for its $10 million award, Swanger said.
Gloversville’s plan for making improvements and creating new spaces was drafted by city officials, CRG President and CEO Ron Peters and grant writer Nicholas Zabawsky.
The city’s plans include streetscape improvements on South Main and Harrison streets, lawn improvements at Estee Commons near the bronze sculptures, a new bike path connecting Trail Station Park and downtown, a skate park at the corner of Bleecker and Church streets and a redesign of Castiglione Park. The plans were presented to members of the New York Innovative Communities Network in April and to the Common Council on May 10 via a video created by the city with the help of local civil engineer Darrin Romeyn.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected]
