GLOVERSVILLE — City and economic officials may hear later this month if they were chosen as one of the recipients of a $10 million prize.
One downtown will be selected from each of the state’s 10 Regional Economic Development Councils for a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant.
The REDCs solicited applications for downtowns that are ripe for revitalization and have the potential to become magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, greater economic and housing diversity, and opportunity.
Gloversville is in the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council’s plan.
Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist Jennifer Jennings said during the June 30 Fulton County Center for Regional Growth Board of Director’s meeting that the city’s application was turned in on June 14.
“All the paperwork says we should hear on or around July 14, so it is a quick turnout on decisions,” Jennings said.
FCCRG President and Chief Executive Officer Ronald Peters said he is hopeful about this application.
“There were seven submitted in the Mohawk Valley,” Peters said.
Peters said like Gloversville, many of the other applicants, also polished their applications from last year for the 2017 round.
“I think ours is probably the best. I may be a little biased on that,” Peters said.
Gloversville’s plans included 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 the privately owned Castiglione Park.
Last year, the state made the announcement at the winning municipalities. The state announced on July 19, 2016 that Oneonta was the recipient of that years prize for the Mohawk Valley Region.
According to the state, there are eight criteria for weighing the nominees, including: a downtown with compact, well defined boundaries; sufficient size to support a year-round downtown; recent or impending job growth within or close downtown; and having identified transformative projects that will be ready within a year or two of receiving the DRI funds.
New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado will spearhead the latest effort with a team of private sector experts and planners from the New York Department of State, with support from the Division of Homes and Community Renewal and other state agencies, according to the governor’s office. The state will assist selected municipalities in building strategic investment plans and identifying transformative projects consistent with the initiative’s goals.
Peters said winning municipalities have a team appointed by the state who determine the best projects that fit the $10 million grant. He said there is no time table for use of the funds for the winning community.
Kerry Minor can be reached at [email protected]
